COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK

OF SECOND SAMUEL
By

Rev. Dr Jeffry David Camm

Contents
Dedication: ............................................................................................. 3
Copyright: .............................................................................................. 3
Foreword: .............................................................................................. 3
Who Wrote The Book Of 1 & 2 Samuel? ....................................................... 3
Reference Codes: .................................................................................... 5
THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL: ............................................................... 5
Chapter One: David Hears the News of Samuel’s Death ................................. 5
Chapter Two: David is Made King Over Judah ............................................... 7
Chapter Three: David Gets Stronger, Abner Displeased with Ishbotheth ......... 10
Chapter Four: Ishbotheth Murdered ........................................................... 13
Chapter FIVE: David Made King over ALL Israel ........................................... 15
Chapter Six: David Brings the Ark from KIRJATHJEARIM ............................... 17
Chapter Seven: God’s Promises to David, by Nathan the Prophet ................... 20
Chapter Eight: David Subdues His Enemies ................................................. 23
Chapter Nine: David Sends for Mephibosheth .............................................. 24
Chapter Ten: David’s Messengers Abused by Hanun. .................................... 26
Chapter Eleven: David’s Adultery ~ Uriah Slain in Battle ............................... 28
Chapter Twelve: God Judges David’s Sin .................................................... 30
Chapter Thirteen: Amnon Forces Tamar ..................................................... 34
Chapter Fourteen: Joab’s Plan to Bring Absalom Home ................................. 38
Chapter Fifteen: Absalom’s Conspiracy at Hebron ........................................ 41
Chapter Sixteen: Ziba’s Falsehood: Shimei Curses David .............................. 44
Chapter Seventeen: Secret Intelligence Is sent to David ............................... 47
Chapter Eighteen: Israelites Slain: Absalom Killed in Ephraim ........................ 50
Chapter Nineteen: Joab Causes David to Cease Mourning. ............................. 53
Chapter Twenty: Joab Slays Amasa; The Wise Woman of Abel ....................... 57
Chapter Twenty-One: 3 years of Famine, Saul’s Sons Hanged ........................ 60
Chapter Twenty-Two: A Psalm of Thanksgiving ............................................ 63
Chapter Twenty-Three: David’s Last Words & His Mighty Men ........................ 66
Chapter Twenty-Four: David’s SIN In Numbering The People ......................... 69
Conclusion: ........................................................................................... 71

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DEDICATION:
This commentary is dedicated to the millions of women, who have gone before us, and
who have been prepared to offer up their sons and daughter, back to God Almighty, to
serve and honour Him, and to preach the gospel in many nations, and who have risked,
and in some cases, given up their lives, for the gospel.
To my wife, Rani, who has been my soulmate and my encouragement for these last 41
years, as we have travelled and preached in many nations. There have been many good
experiences, (and some not so good ones), but throughout these travelling adventures
for the Lord, He has always been faithful; He is a person we know that we can trust, in
ALL situations ~ in the good, the bad, and the ugly!

COPYRIGHT:
The contents of this book remain the copyright property of the author, Rev. Dr Jeffry
David Camm, and his estate, in succession. Permission is given for the use of parts of
this document for Bible Study Groups, Evangelism, or Private Study. Permission is given
for the whole of this document to be reproduced by Christian organisations for
evangelistic and/or Bible College reference purposes, provided it is not sold for profit.

FOREWORD:
The story of Samuel starts in 1 Samuel, with a woman, who is barren, who makes an
oath before God, and she promises that “IF God hears and answers her prayer, for a
son”, THEN “she will offer Him back to God to serve God for all-of his life.”
As an answer to this particular prayer, we have two books written, (originally written as
one book, but made into two books when they made the Septuagint) as a testimony in
the Old Testament, to how God answers prayers, and how people’s lives are changed
forever.
Just like in 2 Chronicles 7:14, this is a “Conditional Prayer”, where both parties are
committed in covenant, for the Prayer to be fulfilled.
In my own personal case this also applies; I was involved in a serious car accident, which
resulted in me becoming a quadriplegic. The doctors said I would need 24/7 care, for
the rest of my life. I prayed a similar prayer to Jesus and said; “IF” you heal me,
“THEN” I will serve you for the rest of my life.
So, I have now been a missionary in 43 nations, planting 39 churches and seeing many
thousands make decisions for Jesus Christ. Now, in my 80th year, I am running a fully
accredited, FREE, online Bible College, with over 5,100 students in 48 nations, who, as
part of their practical training in 2022, made over 60,000 primary disciples, and then
mentored them, and sent them out, to make over 720,000 secondary disciples. GOD is
really good ~ ALL-OF THE TIME!
WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF 1 & 2 SAMUEL?
In the original Hebrew composition, 1 and 2 Samuel is one book. During the second half
of the third century BC, 70 scribes translated the Hebrew Old Testament into the Greek
Septuagint. Because the scrolls at that time, did not have enough space for the complete
content of Samuel, it was divided into two books (Neely 2014:399).
Regardless of how many books and translations of Samuel there may be, the Holy Spirit
inspired the original autograph. The Books of 1 and 2 Samuel should be read and
studied as one book.
Authorship of Samuel
According to a tractate of the Babylonian Talmud, ‘Samuel wrote the book which bears
his name’, but this source is at best only partially correcta. Since Samuel’s death is
described in 1 Samuel chapter 25, he was at best, the author of only 1 Samuel chapters
1-24, with other authors inspired to write the rest of 1 & 2 Samuel.

a
(Merrill 2011:307)

3
Whoever the human author(s) was (or were), sources, such as the Book of Jashar (2
Samuel 1:18) as well as the “Chronicles of Samuel, the seer”, the “Chronicles of Nathan
the prophet”, and the Chronicles of Gad the seer” (cf. 1 Chronicles 29:29-30) may well
have been consulted. But again, the divine author is the Holy Spirit, and so the original
autograph was inspired. As for the identity (or identities) of the human author(s), while
Samuel and/or Nathan and/or Gad could perhaps have written part(s) of it, we simply
do not know the name of the human author(s) who wrote Samuel.
Historical Scope
The Books of 1 and 2 Samuel open with the conception of Samuel and close with the
reign of David almost over. If we work backwards, David died in 971 BC, after he had
reigned 33 years over all of Israel and 7.5 years over Judah (cf. 2 Samuel 2:5-6).
Before David, Saul had also reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21), thus Saul must have
been anointed as king in 1051 BC. Through various further deductions (see Merrill
2008:192-197), Samuel must have been born sometime near 1124-1121 B.C.
Thus, the historical scope of the Book of Samuel covers about 150 years (cf. Neely
2014:400; Constable 2017:3).
Historical Context and Purpose
After the death of Joshua, a general, but definite decline occurred in Israel, as it fell into
sin, and then into God’s discipline, followed by oppression, and servitude to other
nations, after which Israel repented, and experienced deliverance under a Judge, only
to once again, fall into sin, thereby repeating the cycle (Judges 2:11-23).
One refrain in Judges — ‘in those days there was no king in Israel’ (17:6; 21:25) —
became an optimistic ring in the Book of Ruth, as it ends with the genealogy of king
David.
In the Book of Samuel (1 & 2 Samuel), we see the transition from the last Judges, Eli
and then lastly Samuel, to the monarchy in Israel. It was always God’s plan that Israel
would have a king (Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; Deuteronomy 17:14-20), but the
king was to come from the Tribe of Judah, in God’s perfect time, and not for the reasons
Israel mentioned (cf. 1 Samuel 8:20).
Still, after Saul, came king David, a king after God’s heart, a king who loved God despite
some failings, (1 Samuel 13:14; 2 Samuel 11:1-27).
It was always God’s plan that not only Israel, but all-of the nations, would be ruled by
the ultimate Son of David, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Lion from the Tribe of Judah.
The Book of Samuel is therefore rich with types and typology, be it David who points to
Christ, or be it the house of Saul, fighting with the house of David. A most important
moment in Samuel is when God promised David that he would have an eternal house,
an eternal kingdom, an eternal throne, and an Eternal Descendant (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
After the death and resurrection of Christ, not only can the kingdom be restored to Israel
in God’s perfect time (cf. Acts 1:6-7), but the cycle of sin-oppression-repentance-
deliverance-sin etc. can also be reversed, as individuals and nations, can enter into rest
that God provides through Christ’s victory on the cross.

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REFERENCE CODES:
The following codes will be used in this book to identify/highlight specific explanations.

Verse Codes Timeline Description

A After the Millennium
D The Diaspora of the Jews to many nations
F The First Coming (Birth & Life of Jesus Christ)
I Israel
LD Last Days
M Millennium Reign
R Jesus appearing in the clouds to claim His saints, as HIS CHURCH
S Second Coming ~ back to the earth
T Tribulation Period
[P] A promise in God’s Word
[BP] A Broken Promise
[FP] A fulfilled Promise in God’s word
[CP] A Conditional Promise in God’s Word. [IF ... Then ...]
[C] An Express Commandment of God
Footnote code [h]~ Meaning of the Hebrew text
Footnote code [g] ~Meaning of the Greek text
*** Therefore [Conclusion] go back & read what it is “there” “for”.

THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL:

CHAPTER ONE: DAVID HEARS THE NEWS OF SAMUEL’S DEATH

1. Now it came to pass, after the death of Saul, when David was returned from
athe slaughter of the Amalekites (which Saul should have done in 1 Samuel),
that David had abode in Ziklag for two days;
2. It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the
camp from Saul, bwith his clothes rent, and cearth upon his head: and it was
so, that when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3. And David said unto him, “From whence cometh thou?” And he said unto him,
“Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.”
4. And David said unto him, “dHow went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.” And he
answered, “That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people
are also fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”
5. And David said unto the young man that told him, “How knowest thou that Saul
and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6. And the young man that told him said, “As I happened by chance upon Mount
Gilboa, behold, eSaul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen
followed hard after him.
7. “And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me, and I
answered, ‘fhere am I’.”
8. And he said unto me, “Who art thou?” And I answered him, “I am an
Amalekite.”
9. And he said unto me again, “Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for
g
anguish is come upon me, because my life, is yet whole in me,”
10. “So, I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live
after he had fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the
bracelet that was upon his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.”
11. Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them: and likewise all-of the men
that were with him:

a c e g
1 Samuel 30:17.26 Joshua 7:6 Compare 1 Samuel [h]~ For my coat of
b
1 Samuel 4:12; d
[h]~ Or, what was 31:1-4 mail, elders me, that
Genesis 4:13 the outcome f
[h]~ behold me my …

5
 12. And they mourned and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for
Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the House of Israel;
for they were fallen by the sword.
Firstly, from this account we know that this Amalekite youth is lying, because from 1
Samuel chapter 31:3-4, we know that Saul asked his own armourbearer to kill him, and
he refused to kill God’s anointed, so Saul lent on his own sword, and it pierced through
his body, and killed him. This Amalekite stole the crown and the bracelet off the dead
body of Saul, and brought it to David, hoping for a good reward, but he got death, as
his reward instead.
Saul was dead, and David had returned to Ziklag, after slaughtering the Amalekites.
Three days later, a young man arrived from the Israeli army, with his clothes torn, and
with dirt on his head, as a sign of mourning. He fell before David as a sign of respect.
“Where do you come from?” David asked. “From the Israeli army,” he replied. “What
happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went?”
And the young man replied, “Our entire army fled from the face of the Philistines,
thousands of men are dead, and wounded on the field, and King Saul and his son
Jonathan have been killed.” [Notice, there is no mention of the other two sons of Saul
that have also been killed.] “How do you know that they are dead?”
“Because I was on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning against his spear, with the enemy
chariots closing in upon him. When he saw me, he cried out for me to come to him.”
“‘Who are you?’” he asked. “‘An Amalekite’.” I replied. “Come and put me out of my
misery,’ he begged, ‘for I am in terrible pain, but life lingers on.’
“So, I killed him, for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and bracelet to bring
to you, my lord.”
Then David and his men tore their clothes, in sorrow, when they heard the news. They
mourned and wept and fasted, all day, for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s
people, and for the men of Israel, who died that day.
13. And David said unto the young man that told him, “Whence art thou?” And he
answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14. And David said unto him, “How were you not aafraid to bstretch forth thine
hand, to destroy, cthe LORD’s anointed?”
15. And David called one of the young men and said, “Go near; and fall upon him.”
And he smote him, that he died.
16. And David said unto him, “dThy blood be upon thy head; for ethy mouth has
testified against thee, saying, “I have slain the LORD’s anointed.”
Then David interrogated the young man who brought the news. “Where are you from?”
And the young man replied, “I am an Amalekite.” David demanded, “Why did you kill
your master, God’s chosen king?”
Then David said to one of his young men. “Kill him!” So, he ran him through with his
sword, and he died. “You die self-condemned” David said, “for you yourself, confessed
that you killed God’s anointed king.”
17. And David flamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his
son.
18. Also, he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold it is
written, in the book gof Jasher.
19. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20. h
Tell it not on Gath, publish it not in Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the
Philistines irejoice, lest the daughters of jthe uncircumcised triumph.

a e h
1 Samuel 31:4 Compare Luke 19:22 1 Samuel 31:9;
b
1 Samuel 24:6; 26:9 f
3:33; 2 Chronicles Matthew 1:10
i
c
1 Samuel 12:3 35:25 Exodus 15:20;
d g
[h]~ of the upright; Judges 11:34
Joshua 2:19; 1 Kings j
2:37 Joshua 10:13 Judges 14:3

6
 21. You amountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon
you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away,
the shield of Saul, as though he had not been banointed with oil.
22. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, cthe bow of Jonathan
turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and dpleasant, in their lives, and in their death,
they were not divided; they were eswifter than eagles, they were fstronger than
lions.
24. You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other
delights, who put on ornaments, of gold upon your apparel.
25. How are the mighty fallen, in-the-midst-of the battle! O Jonathan, you were
slain in the high places.
26. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been
unto me: thy love for me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished.
Then David composed a dirge for Saul and Jonathan and afterwards commanded that it
be sung throughout Israel.
The song is mentioned here in verse 18, as the Book of Asher, however, no verified copy
of the Book of Asher has been found, nor was any copies found in the Wadi Qumran
scrolls. [The Dead Sea Scrolls] However, there are documents purporting to be copies
of the Book of Asher, but they are false.
The verses here are quoted from the Book entitled, Heroic Ballads:
O Israel, your pride and joy lies dead upon the hills;
Mighty heroes have fallen
Don’t tell the Philistines, lest they rejoice,
Hide it from the cities of Gath and Ashkelon,
O Mount Gilboa,
Let there be no rain, or dew fall upon you,
Let no crops of grain grow on your slopes,g
For there the mighty Saul has died;
He is God’s appointed king no more,
But Saul and Jonathan slew their strongest foes,
And did not return from battle empty-handed,
How much they were loved, how wonderful they were,
Both Saul and Jonathan.
They were together in life and in death,
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions,
But now, O woman of Israel, weep for Saul:
He enriched you,
With fine clothing and golden ornaments,
These mighty heroes have fallen in the battle,
Jonathan is slain upon the hills.
How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan; How much I loved you; And your love for me
was deeper than the love for a woman! O how the mighty ones have fallen, Stripped of
their weapons, and dead.

CHAPTER TWO: DAVID IS MADE KING OVER JUDAH

1. [C] And it came to pass after this, that David hinquired of the LORD, saying,
“Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said unto him,
“Go up!” And David said, “Whither shall I go up?” And God said, “Unto Hebron.”

a e g
1 Samuel 31:1 Jeremiah 4:13; [h]~ the text is
b
1 Samuel 10:1 Habakkuk 1:8 uncertain in the
c f
Judges 14:18 original manuscript.
1 Samuel 18 :4 h
d Numbers 27:21
[h]~ sweet

7
 2. So, David went up thither, and his atwo wives also, Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess,
and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, the Carmelite.
3. And bhis men that were with him, did David bring up, every man with his
household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4. c
And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the
house of Judah. And they told David saying, That the men of dJabesh-Gilead
were they that buried Saul.
Then David asked the LORD, “Shall I move back to Judah?” And the LORD replied, “YES.”
“And which city should I go to in Judah?” And the LORD replied, “Hebron.” So, David and
his wives ~ Ahinoam, from Jezreel, and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel, ~ and his
men and all-of their families, moved to Hebron.
Then the leaders of Judah, came to David, and crowned him king of the Judean
Confederacy.
5. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and said unto
them, “eBlessed be you of the LORD, that you have shown this kindness unto
your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
6. And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite
you this kindness, because you have done this thing.
7. *** Therefore, now let your hands be strengthened, and be you valiant: for
your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king
over them.
When David heard that the men of Jabesh-Gilead had buried Saul, he sent them this
message: “May the LORD bless you for being so loyal to your king, and giving him as
decent burial. May the LORD be loyal to you in return, and reward you with many
demonstrations of his love! And I to will be kind to you, because of what you have done.
And now I ask you to be strong and loyal subjects, now that Saul is dead. Be like the
leaders of the tribe of Judah, who have appointed me as their new king.
8. But fAbner, the son of Ner, captain of gSaul’s host, took hIshbotheth, the son of
Saul, and brought him over to iMahan-aim.
9. And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and
over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10. Ishbotheth, Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel,
and he reigned (for) two years). But the house of Judah followed David.
11. And the jtime that David was king over Judah was seven years and six months.
But Abner, Saul’s commander-in-chief, had gone to Mahanaim, to crown Saul’s only
remaining son, Ishbotheth, as king. His territory included Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel,
Ephraim, the tribe of Benjamin, and the rest of Israel.
Ishbotheth was forty years old at the time he became king, and he reigned in Mahanaim
for two years: Meanwhile, David was reigning in Hebron as king, of the Judean
confederacy for seven and a half years.
12. And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbotheth, the son of Saul,
went out from Mahanaim to kGibeon.
13. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met
l
together by mthe pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, one (group) on one side
of the pool, and the other (group) on the other side of the pool.
14. And Abner said to Joab, “let the young men now arise, and play before us.”
And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
15. And they arose and went over by number, twelve of Benjamin, which pertained
to Ishbotheth, the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

a
1 Samuel 25:43 g
[h]~ the host which into battle against j
[h]~ number of days
b was Saul’s the Philistines, and k
1 Samuel 27: 2,3 Joshua 9:3
h as such, became
c
5:5 [h]~ Or, Eshbaal; 1 l
[h]~ them together
next in line to be
d Chronicles 8:33; m
1 Samuel 31:13 king, after the death Jeremiah 41:12
9:39; Compare 4:4 &
e
Ruth 2:20 of his three brothers.
11:21: This was the i
f
1 Samuel; 14:50 son that did not go 17:24

8
 16. And they caught everyone his fellow by his head, and thrust his sword into his
fellow’s side: so, they fell down together.
17. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men
of Israel, before the servants of David.
One day, General Abner led some of Ishbotheth’s troops to Gibeon from Mahanaim, and
General Joab, (the son of Zeruiah) led David’s troops out to meet them. They met at the
pool of Gibeon, where they sat facing each other on opposite sides of the same pool.
Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s watch some sword play between our young me!”
Joab agreed, and twelve men were chosen from each side, to fight in mortal combat.
Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair, and thrust his sword into the other’s side,
so that all 24 of the men died. The place has been known ever since as the “Sword
“Field.
When the two armies saw this, then both armies rose up and began to fight each other,
and by the end of the day, Abner and the men of Israel had been defeated by Joab and
the forces of David.
18. And there were athree sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel:
and Asahel was as light bof foot cas a wild roe.
19. And Asahel pursued after Abner: and in going he turned not to the right hand
nor the left hand dfrom following Abner.
20. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, “Art thou Asahel?” and he answered,
“I Am.”
21. And Abner said to him, “Turn the aside to the right hand or to the left, and lay
thee hold of the young men and take his earmour.” But Asahel would not turn
aside from following him.
22. And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn thee aside from following me; Wherefore
should I smite thee to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab,
thy brother?”
23. Howbeit, he refused to turn aside; Wherefore Abner, with the hinder end of
the spear, smote him funder the fifth rib, that the spear came our behind him;
and he fell down there, and died in the same place, And it came to pass, that
as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.
24. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner; and the sun went down when they
come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah, by the way of the wilderness
of Gibeon.
Joab’s brothers, Abishai and Asahel, were also in the battle. Asahel could run like a deer,
and he began chasing after Abner. He wouldn’t stop for anything, but kept on single
minded after him, focussed on Abner alone.
When Abner looked behind him, and saw him coming, he called out to him, “Is that you,
Asahel?” “Yes,” he called back, “It is.” “Go after someone else” Abner warned. But Asahel
refused and kept on coming. Again, Abner shouted at him, “Get away from here. I could
never face your brother Joab, if I have to kill you.” But he refused to turn away, so Abner
pierced him through the belly with the butt end of his spear. It went right through his
body and came out his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there, and everyone
stopped, when they came to the place where he lay.
Now Joab and Abishai set out after Abner. The sun was going down when they came to
Ammah Hill near Giah, along the road into the Gibeon desert.
25. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and
become one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.
26. Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Knowest
that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, ere you
bid the people return from following their brethren?”

a c d f
1 Samuel 26:6 [h]~ as one of the [h]~ from after Abner 3:27; 4:6; 20:10
b
[h]~ of his feet roes that are I the e
[h]~ spoil; See also
field. Judges 14:19

9
 27. And Joab said, “As God lives, unless ayou had spoken, surely then bin the
morning, the people had cgone up every one from following his brother.”
28. So, Joab blew a trumpet, and all-of the people stood still, and pursued after
Israel no more, neither they fought any more.
29. And Abner and his men walked all night through the plain, and passed over the
Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
30. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all-of the
people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
31. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, three
hundred and sixty men.
Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there on the top of the hill, and
Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must our swords continue to kill each other forever? How
long will it be before you call off your people, from chasing after their brothers?”
Joab shouted back, “I swear by God that even if you hadn’t spoken, we would have all
gone home tomorrow morning.” Then Joab blew his trumpet, and the men stopped
chasing after the men of Israel.
That night, Abner and his men retreated across the Jordan valley, crossed the Jordan
River, and travelled all of the next morning, until they arrived at Mahanaim.
Joab and his men who were with him, returned home too, and when he counted his
casualties, he learned that only nineteen men were missing, in addition to Asahel,
making a total of 20 men. But 360 of Abner’s men (all from the tribe of Benjamin) were
dead. (20 against 360)!
32. And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which
was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to
Hebron at break of day.
Joab and his men took Asahel’s body to Bethlehem and buried him beside his father;
then they travelled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

CHAPTER THREE: DAVID GETS STRONGER, ABNER DISPLEASED WITH

ISHBOTHETH
1. Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David:
but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul, waved weaker
and weaker.
There was the beginning of a long war between the followers of Saul, and the followers
of David. David’s position now became stronger and stronger, while the dynasty of Saul
became weaker and weaker. God Almighty was rising up one leader, and removing the
power of the other.
2. And dunto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, eof
Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess:
3. And the second, fChileab, of Abigail, the widow of Nabal, the Carmelite; and
the third, Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
4. And the fourth, gAdonijah, the son of Haggith, and the fifth, Shephatiah, the
son of Abital;
5. And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in
Hebron.
Several sons were born to David while he was at Hebron.
a) The oldest was Ammon, born to his wife Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess;
b) The second was Chileab, born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal, of Carmel;
c) The third was Absalom, born to Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai, of Geshur.
d) The fourth was Adonijah, born to Haggith;
e) The fifth was Shephatiah, born to Abital; and

a c e g
See verse 14 [h]~ gone away 1 Samuel 25:43 1 Kings 1:5
b d f
[h]~ from the See verse 5; 1 Also known as Daniel;
morning Chronicles 1-4 1 Chronicles 3:1

10
f) The sixth was Ithream, born to Eglah.
So, now David has acquired additional wives.
6. And it came to pass, while there was a war between the house of Saul and the
house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7. And Saul had a concubine, whose name was aRizpah, the daughter of Aiah, and
Ishbotheth said to Abner, “Wherefore have you bgone in unto my father’s
concubine?”
8. Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbotheth, and said, “Am I ca
dog’s head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of
Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee
into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a fault concerning this
woman?”
9. d
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD has sworn to David,
even so I do to him;
10. To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of
David over Israel and over Judah, efrom Dan, even to Beersheba.
11. And Ishbotheth could not answer Abner a word, because he feared him.
As the war progressed, Abner became a very powerful political leader among the
followers of Saul. He took advantage of his position, by sleeping with one of Saul’s
concubines, a girl name Rizpah. But when Ishbotheth accused him of this, Abner was
furious. [He refused to acknowledge his sin; his pride had clouded his judgement.]
“Am I a Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for
you, and for your father, by not betraying you to David, is this my reward ~ to find fault
with me about some woman?” Abner made this comment to try to divert the
conversation away from the sin that he had committed.
Ishbotheth made no reply, for he was afraid of Abner.
12. And Abner sent messages to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?
Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring
about all-of Israel unto thee.
13. [CP] And he said, “Well: I will make a league with thee: but one thing I will
require of thee, that is, You shall not see my face, except you first bring fMichal,
Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
14. And David sent messengers to Ishbotheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my
wife, Michal, which I espoused to me, gfor one hundred foreskins of the
Philistines.
15. And Ishbotheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from hPhaltiel, the
son of Laish.
16. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then
Abner said to him, “GO, return!” And he returned.
Then Abner, the clever politician, sent messengers to David, to discuss a deal ~ to
surrender the kingdom of Israel to him, in exchange for becoming Commander-in-chief
of the combined armies of Israel and Judah.
“All right,” David replied, “But, I will not negotiate with you, unless you bring me my
wife, Michal, Saul’s daughter.” Then David sent this message to Ishbotheth: “Give me
back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of one hundred Philistines, and
presented their foreskins to your father, King Saul.”
So Ishbotheth took her away from her second husband (Phalti). He followed along
behind her as far as Behurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go on home
now.” So, he returned home.
17. And Abner had communications with the elders of Israel, saying, “You sought
i
in times past for David to be king over you:

a
21:8,10 2 Samuel 9:8; 16:9; 2 e
Judges 20:1; 1 h
1 Samuel 25:44
b Kings 8:13 Samuel 3:20; 1 (Also known as
16:21 d
c See verse 35; Ruth Kings 4:25 Phalti)
Compare
1:17; f
1 Samuel 14:49 i
[h]~ both yesterday
Deuteronomy 23:18; 1
Samuel 17:43; 24:14; g
1 Samuel 18:25,27 and the third day

11
 18. “Now then do it: For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of
my servant David, I will save my people Israel, out of the hand of the
Philistines, and out of the hand of their enemies’.”
19. And Abner also went to speak in the ears of aBenjamin: and Abner also went
to speak in the ears of David in Hebron, all that seemed good to Israel, and
seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20. So, Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made
Abner and the men with him a feast.
21. And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather unto my lord the
king, that they may make a league with thee, and that may reign over all that
thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away: and he went in peace.
Meanwhile, Abner consulted with the leaders of Israel, and reminded them that for a
long time, they had wanted as their king.
“Now is the time!” he told them. “For the LORD has said, ‘It is David, by whom I will
save my people from the Philistines, and from all-of their other enemies’.”
Abner also talked to the leaders of the tribe of Benjamin; then he went to Hebron and
reported his progress with the people of Israel, and Benjamin. Twenty men accompanied
him, and David entertained them with a feast.
As Abner left, he promised David, “When I get back, I will call a convention of all the
people of Israel, and they will elect you as king, as you have so long desired.” So, David
allowed Abner to return in safety.
22. And, Behold the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop and
brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron:
for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23. When Joab and all the host that were with him were come, they told Joab,
saying, Abner the son of Ner, came to the king, and he has sent him away in
peace,
24. Then Joab came to the king, and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner
came unto thee, why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25. “You know that Abner, the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to
know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that you do.”
26. And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner,
which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27. And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate, to speak
with him bquietly, and smote him there, cunder the fifth rib, that he died, for
the blood of Asahel his brother.
But just after Abner left, Joab and some of David’s troops came back from a raid, bring
much loot with them. When Joab was told that Abner had just been there visiting the
king, and had been sent away in peace, he was not happy, and rushed to the king, and
asked demandingly, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting him get away?
You know perfectly well that he came here to spy on us, and that he plans to return and
attack us!”
Then Joab sent messengers, to catch up with Abner and tell him to come back. They
found him at the well of Sirah, and he returned with them: but David knew nothing
about this deception. When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the city
gate, as if to speak with him privately; but then he pulled out a dagger and killed him,
in revenge for the killing of Asahel, his brother.
28. And afterwards, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless
before the LORD forever, from the dblood of Abner, the son of Ner:
29. “eLet it rest on the head of Joab, and on his father’s house: and let there not
f
fail from the house of Joab, gone that has an issue, or hthat is a leper, or that
leans on ia staff, or that falls on the sword, or that lacks bread.”

a d g i
1 Chronicles 12:29 [h]~ bloods Leviticus 15:2 Proverbs 31:19
b e h
[h]~ peaceably 1 Kings 2: 32:33 Leviticus 14:2: 2
c
2:23 f
[h]~ be cut off Kings 5:1

12
 30. So, Joab and Abishai his brother, slew Abner, because he had slain their
brother, aAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.
When David heard about what Joab had done, he declared; “I vow by the LORD God of
Israel, that I, and my people are innocent of this crime against Abner. Joab and his
family are the guilty ones. May each of his children be victims of cancer, or be lepers, or
be sterile, or die of starvation, or be killed by the sword. May the blood of Abner be
forever upon their heads.”
31. Then said David to Joab, and to all-of the people with him, “brend your clothes
and cgird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And king David
himself followed the dbier.
32. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at
the grave of Abner; and all-of the people wept.
33. And the king elamented over Abner, and said, “Died Abner as a ffool dies?
34. “Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put in fetters: as a man falls before
g
wicked men, so fell you.” And all-of the people wept over him again.
35. And when all-of the people came hto cause David to eat meat, while it was yet
day, David swears saying, “So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread,
or ought else, itill the sun be down.”
36. And all-of the people took notice of it, and it jpleased them: as whatsoever the
king did pleased all of the people.
37. For all the people and all-of Israel understood that day that it was not of the
king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38. And the king said unto his servants, “Know you not that there is a prince and
a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39. “And I am this day kweak, though anointed king: and these men, lthe sons of
Zeruiah mbe too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil, according
to his wickedness.
Then David said to Joab and to all those that were with him, “Go into deep mourning for
Abner.” And King David accompanied the bier to the cemetery. They buried Abner in
Hebron, And the king and all-of the people wept at the graveside. “Should Abner have
died like a fool?” the king lamented.
“Your hands were not bound, Your feet were not tied, you were murdered! The victim of
a wicked plot!” And all-of the people wept again for him.
David had refused to eat anything the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him
to take a bite of supper. But David vowed that he would not eat anything until sundown.
This pleased the people, just as everything else he did pleased them! Then the whole
nation, both Judah and Israel, understood that from David’s actions, he was in no way
responsible for Abner’s death.
And David said to his people, “A great leader, and a great man has fallen today in Israel;
and even though I am God’s chosen king, I can do nothing with these two sons of
Zeruiah. May the LORD repay these wicked men for their wickedness.

CHAPTER FOUR: ISHBOTHETH MURDERED

1. And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, nhis hands were
feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
2. And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of one
was Baanah, and the name of the oother Rechab, the son of Rimmon a
Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for pBeeroth also was reckoned to
Benjamin:

a e i m
2:23 1:17 1:12 19:7
b f j n
1:2 13:12,13 [h]~ was good in Ezra 4:4
c
1 Kings 20:31 g
[h]~ children of their eyes o
[h]~ second
k
d
[h]~ bed iniquity [h]~ tender p
23:37; Joshua 18:25;
h l
12:17 1 Samuel 26:6

13
 3. And the Beerothites fled to aGittaim, and were sojourned there till this day.)
4. And bJonathan, Saul’s son had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five
years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his
nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee,
that he fell and he became lame. And his name was cMephibosheth [Also called
Merib-baal].
5. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came
about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbotheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
6. And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they had fetched
wheat; and they smote him dunder the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his
brother escaped.
7. For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and
they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and got
them away through the plain all night. [Now they really made sure that he was
dead; they stabbed him under the 5th rib, then they slew him, and to make
100% sure, they cut off his head.]
8. And they brought the head of Ishbotheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the
king, “Behold the head of Ishbotheth, the son of Saul thine enemy, ewhich
sought thy life: and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul,
and of his seed.
When King Ishbotheth heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he was paralysed with fear,
and his people too were badly frightened. The command of the Israeli troops then fell to
two brothers, Baanah and Rechab, who were the captains of King Ishbotheth’s raiding
bands. They were the sons of Rimmon, who was of Beeroth, in Benjamin. The people
from Beeroth are counted as Benjaminites, even though they fled to Gittaimf, where
they now live.
Now there was a lame grandson of King Saul, named Mephibosheth, who was the son
of Prince Jonathan. He was five years old at the time when Saul and Jonathan (and his
two younger brothers) were all killed at the battle of Jezreel.
When the news of the outcome of the battle reached the capital, the child’s nurse
grabbed him and fled, but she fell and dropped him, as she was running away, and he
became lame.
Rechab and Baanah arrived at King Ishbotheth’s home, at noon, when he was taking a
nap. They walked into the kitchen, as though they were getting a sack of wheat, but
they sneaked into his bedroom, and murdered him, and then cut of his head.
They took his head with them, and fled across the desert by night and escaped.
The next day, they presented the head to King David in Hebron.
“LOOK!” They exclaimed. “Here is the head of Ishbotheth, the son of your enemy Saul,
who tried to kill you. Today the LORD has given you revenge upon Saul and upon his
entire family!”
9. And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon, the
Beerothite, and said unto them, “As the LORD lives, gwho has redeemed my
soul out of all adversity,
10. h
When one told me saying, “Behold, Saul is dead, ithinking to have brought
good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, jwho thought that I
would have given him a reward for his tidings:
11. *** How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person, in his
own house, upon his bed? Shall I not therefore now require his blood of your
hand, and take you away from the earth?”

a
Nehemiah 11:33 d
2:23 the boundaries of the i
[h]~ he was in his
b e Benjaminite’s. own eyes bringing
9:3 1 Samuel g
c 19:2,10,11; 23:15; 1 Kings 1:29; Psalm j
[h]~ which was the
[h]~ Or, Merib-baal;
25:29 31:7 reward that I gave
1 Chronicles 8:34; h
9:40 Compare 2:28 f
Gittaim is not 1:2,4,15 him for his tidings
& 3:32 geographically within

14
 12. And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their
hands, and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they
took the head of Ishbotheth and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
But upon hearing this news, David replied, “I swear by the LORD God of Israel, who
saved me from mine enemies, that when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead’, thinking he
is bring me good news, I killed him; that is how I rewarded him for his ‘glad tidings’.
And how much more shall I do to wicked men, who kill a good man in his own house,
and on his own bed! Shall I not demand your lives also?”
So, David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands
and feet, and hanged their bodies over the pool in Hebron, so that their blood would not
defile the earth. And they took Ishbotheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in
Hebron.

CHAPTER FIVE: DAVID MADE KING OVER ALL ISRAEL

1. Then acame all-of the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spoke saying,
“Behold, bwe are thy bone and thy flesh.
2. Also, in times past, when Saul was king over us, cyou were he that led us out
and brought in Israel: And the LORD said to thee, dYou shall feed my people
Israel, and you shall be a captain over Israel.”
3. So, all-of the elders of Israel, came to the king eto Hebron; and king David
made a league with them in Hebron, fbefore the LORD: and they anointed David
King over Israel.
After the death and burial of Ishbotheth, representatives of all-of the tribes of Israel
came to David at Hebron, and gave him their pledge of loyalty and allegiance.
“We are your blood brothers,” they said. “And even when Saul was our king, you were
our real leader. The Lord said through the Prophet Samuel, that you should be the
shepherd and leader of his people.”
So, David made a contract before the LORD, with the leaders of Israel there at Hebron,
and they crowned him King of Israel.
4. David was thirty years old, when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty
years.
5. In Hebron, he reigned over Judah for gseven years and six months: and in
Jerusalem, he reigned thirty-three years, over all-of Israel, and Judah.
David had already been the king of Judah for 71/2 years, since the age of thirty. He then
ruled for thirty-three years in Jerusalem, as king of both Israel and Judah; so, he reigned
a total of forty years.
6. And the king and his men went hto Jerusalem, unto ithe Jebusites, the
inhabitants of the land: Which spoke unto David saying, “Except you take away
the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here: jthinking, David cannot
come in here.”
7. Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion: kthe same is the city of David
(and includes Mount Moriah ~ the Temple Mount).
8. And David said on that day, “Whosoever gets up to the gutter, and smites the
Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, lhe shall
be chief and captain.” “mWherefore they said, “The blind and the lame shall not
come into the house.”
9. So, David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David, And David built
roundabout from nMillo and inward.

a
See verse 10; 1 e
2:3 k
See verse 9; 1 Kings the blind and the
Chronicles 11;1-9; f 2:10; 8:1 lame, he shall not
1 Samuel 23:18 n
12:23-40; g l
Supplied from 1 1 Kings 9:15,24;
2:11; 1 Kings 2:11
b
Genesis 29:14 h Chronicles 11:6 11:27; 2 Kings
c
Judges 1:21 m 12:20; 2 Chronicles
1 Samuel 18:13 i [h]~ Or, because
Joshua 15:63; 32:5
d
1 Samuel 16:1,12; j
they had said, even
[h]~ saying, David
Psalm 78:71,72
shall not

15
 10. And David awent on, and grew great, and the LORD God of Hosts was with him.
David now led his troops to Jerusalem, to fight against the Jebusites who lived there.
Who were the Jebusites? They are mentioned in both the Books of Joshua and Samuel,
and were the descendants of the third son of Canaan, Jebus, and it was given to them
partly because the previous occupants of this land were practising idolatry. They are
believed to have occupied this land in the 14th or 13th centuries BCE, just before the
invasion of Canaan by the Jews; but some remained there right up until the reign of
David over Israel and Judah.
“You’ll never come in here,” they told David. “Even the blind and the lame could keep
you out.” They chanted this because they felt that they were safe. But David and his
troops defeated them, and captured the stronghold of Zion, now called the city of David.
When this insulting message from the Jebusites reached David, he told his troops, “Go
up through the water tunnel into the city, and destroy those “lame” and “blind” Jebusites.
How I hate them. [That is the origin of the saying, “Even the blind and the lame shall
conquer you!”]
So, David made the stronghold of Zion, (also called the City of David) his headquarters.
Then, beginning at the old Millo section of the city, he built northward towards the
present city centre. Then David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Heaven
was with him.
It was within this old part of the City of David that archaeologists recently found Temple
Zero, the Temple constructed by Melchizedek, King of Salem.

Here is a screenshot taken from the video.

Melchizedek temple found - Bing video
11. b
And cHiram, king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees and
carpenters, and masons: and they built David a house.
12. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and
that He had exalted his kingdom, for His people’s, Israel’s sake.
Then King Hiram of Tyre sent cedar lumber, carpenters, and masons, to build a palace
for David. He now realised why the LORD God of Hosts, had made him king, and had
blessed him so greatly ~ it was because The LORD wanted to pour out His kindness and
blessings upon Israel, His chosen people.
13. And dDavid took him emore wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, after he
was come from Hebron: And there was yet sons and daughters born to David.
14. And these be the name of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem;
Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon.
15. Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, Japhia;
16. And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married additional wives and concubines,
and had many sons and daughters. These are his children that were born while David
was in Jerusalem;

a b d e
[h]~ went going and See verse 25 See verse 16; 1 Deuteronomy 17:17
growing c
1 Kings 5:1 Chronicles 3:5-8

16
Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada,
Eliphalet.
17. But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel,
all-of the Philistines came up to seek David: and David heard of it, aand went
down to the hold.
18. The Philistines also came and spread themselves out in bthe valley of Rephaim.
19. [C] And David cinquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines?
Will you deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said unto David, “Go up;
for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20. *** And David came to dBaal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said,
“The LORD has broken forth upon my enemies before me, as the breach of
waters. Therefore, he called the name of that place eBaal-perazim.
21. And there thy left their images, and David and his men burned them.
When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned King of Israel, they tried to
capture him; but David was told that they were coming, and went into the stronghold.
The Philistines arrived and spread out right across the valley of Rephaim.
NOTICE THAT DAVID NEVER GOES OUT TO BATTLE, WITHOUT FIRST
INQUIRING OF THE LORD.
Then David asked the LORD, “Shall I go out and fight against them? Will you defeat
them for me?” And the LORD replied, “Yes, go ahead, for I will give them to you.”
So, David went out and fought against them at Baal-perazim, and defeated them; just
as the LORD had promised. “The LORD did it!” he exclaimed! “He burst through my
enemies like a raging flood.” So, he named the place “Bursting”. [Baal-perazim ~ the
plain of breaches].
22. And the Philistines came up again, and spread themselves in the valley of
Rephaim.
23. [C] And when David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go up, but
fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry
tree.
24. “And let it be, when you fhear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry
tree, that then you shall bestir thyself: for then gshall the LORD go out before
thee, to smote the host of the Philistines.”
25. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines
from hGeba until you came to iGezer.
But the Philistines had not their lesson, so they came up against David once again, and
spread out their army once again in the valley of Rephaim.
When David asked the LORD what to do, He replied, “Don’t make a frontal attack against
them. Go behind them, and come out by the balsam trees. When you hear the sound of
marching feet in the tops of the balsam trees, attack! For it will signify that the LORD
has prepared the way for you, and will destroy them.”
So, David did as the LORD commanded him and destroyed the Philistines, all the way
from Geba to Gezer.

CHAPTER SIX: DAVID BRINGS THE ARK FROM KIRJATHJEARIM

This chapter shows us a very important lesson. When the Philistines took the ark off
the battlefield, when they defeated the Israeli army, they did not get killed for “handling”
the ark, because they were unbelievers and did not know any difference.
When they sent it back to Israel on a new cart, hauled by 2 cows, no-one got killed.
But God had clearly laid down instruction in His word to Moses about how the Priests
(and only the priests) were allowed to carry the ark, on wooden poles.

a d g
1 Samuel 22:4,5 Isaiah 28:21 Judges 4:14
b e h
Joshua 15:8; 18:16; [h]~ the plain of 1 Chronicles 14:16;
2 Samuel 23:13 breaches Gibeon
c f i
Numbers 27;21 2 Kings 7:6 Joshua 10:33

17
Up until now, David has always asked God about what he should do, before he does
anything. But here, in this chapter he forgot, and because of that, someone needlessly
lost their life.
1. Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2. And aDavid arose, and went with all-of the people that were with him from
b
Baale (Kirjathjearim) of Judah, to bring up from thence, the Ark of God, cwhose
name is called by the name of the LORD of Hosts, dthat dwells between the
cherubims.
3. And they eset the Ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house
of Abinadab, that was in fGibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab,
drove the new cart.
4. And they brought it out of gthe house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah,
h
accompanying the Ark of God: and Ohio went before the Ark.
5. And David and all-of the house of Israel played before the LORD, on all manner
of instruments, made of fir wood, even on harps, and on Psalteries, and on
timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
Then David mobilised thirty thousand special troops and led them to Baal-Judah
(Kirjathjearim) to bring home the Ark of the LORD of Heaven, enthroned above
Cherubim. Here we clearly make the distinction. The God of Israel, the LORD of the
Heavenly Hosts, lives above the Cherubim and his presence, is seen in the Ark. But Allah
does not live in the Ark!
The Ark was placed upon a new cart, and taken from the hillside home of Abinadab in
Gibeah. It was driven by Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah, and Ahio. Ahio was walking in front of
the procession, and was followed by David and the other leaders of Israel, who were
joyously waving branches of juniper trees, and playing every kind of musical instrument
before the LORD ~ Lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6. And when they came to iNachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah jput forth his hand to
the Ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen kshook it.
7. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and lGod smote him
there for his merror; and there he died by the Ark of God.
8. And David was displeased, because the LORD had nmade a breach upon Uzzah:
and he called the name of the place oPerezuzzah to this day.
9. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, “How shall the Ark of the
LORD come to me?”
10. So, David would not remove the Ark of the LORD unto him into the city of
David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed Edom, pthe Gittite.
11. And the Ark of the LORD, continued in the house of Obed Edom the Gittite, for
three months: and the LORD blessed Obed Edom and all-of his household.
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nachon, the oxen stumbled, and as a
reflex action, Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ARK, so that it would not be damaged,
or fall off the cart.
Then the anger of the LORD flared out against Uzzah, and God killed him for doing this,
so he died there, right beside the Ark of the LORD.
David was angry at what the LORD had done, and named the spot, “The place of Wrath
upon Uzzah,” (which it is still called today.)
David was now Afraid of the LORD, and asked, “How can I ever bring the ARK home to
the City of David?” [This is the question that David should have asked the LORD, BEFORE
he even started to move it; because it was not to be carried on a cart, but to be carried
by the priests.]

a
See verse 11; 1 HOSTS, was called h
[h]~ with n
[h]~ broken
Chronicles 13:6-14 upon. i o
d
[h]~ called [h]~ that is, the
b
[h]~ Kirjathjearim; Exodus 25:22; 1 j breach of Uzzah
Numbers 4:15
Joshua 15:9,60 Samuel 4:4 p
e
k
[h]~ Or, stumbled Joshua 21:24,25
c
[h]~ at which the [h]~ made to ride l
f 1 Samuel 6:19
name, even the name [h]~ Or, the hill m
of the LORD OF g [h]~ Or, rashness
1 Samuel 7:1,2

18
So, again, not asking God for advice, David decided against taking the Ark of God into
the City of David, but carried it instead, to the home of Obed-Edom, who came from
Gath. The Ark remained there for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and
his whole household.
12. And it was told king David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-
Edom, and all that pertains unto him, because of the Ark of God. aSo, David
went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the
City of David with gladness.
But before moving the Ark this time, David must have consulted the sacred writings, so
that he knew the correct way to transport the Ark. We now see that the Ark, is being
correctly carried by Priests, on poles, and there are sacrifices every 6 steps; so that this
journey is going to be a journey covered in blood.
13. And it was so, that when they that bare the ARK of the LORD had gone six
paces, (they stopped) and he sacrificed boxen and fatlings.
14. And David cdanced before the LORD with all-of his might; and David was girded
d
with a linen Ephod. [Only “Special Priests” were allowed to wear ephods in the
OLD Testament. This is in fact, a prophetic picture of Jesus, the son of Jesse,
as the “Special High Priest,” of the Order of Melchizedek]
15. So, David and all-of the house of Israel, brought up the Ark of the LORD, with
shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16. And as the Ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter,
looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the
LORD: and she despised him in her heart.
When David heard that the LORD was blessing Obed-Edom, because the Ark was in his
house, David decided to move the Ark to the City of David (Jerusalem), with a great
celebration. But this time he had learnt his lesson, and had researched who was to
handle the ark, and how it was to be moved.
After the priests who were carrying the ark had moved six steps, they stopped, so that
David could sacrifice and ox and a fat lamb. So, the procession of the Ark was slow, with
much sacrifices, and much dancing and playing instruments. David Danced before the
LORD, with all of his might wearing priestly garments and an ephod.
So, Israel brought home the Ark of the LORD to Jerusalem, with much shouting and
blowing of trumpets. But, as the procession came into the city, Michal, Saul’s daughter,
watched from a window, and saw David leaping and dancing before the LORD: and she
was filled with contempt for him in her heart.
17. And ethey brought in the Ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in-the-midst-
of the fTabernacle that David had gpitched for it: and David hoffered burnt
offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18. And as soon as David had made and end of offering burnt offerings, and peace
offerings, ihe blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.
19. And he dealt among the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as
well to the women as to the men, to everyone a cake of bread, and a good
piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So, all the people departed everyone to his
house.
The Ark was placed inside the tent, which David had prepared for it; and he sacrificed
burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. Then he blessed the people in the name
of the LORD of Heaven. He also gave a present to everyone ~men and women alike, ~
a loaf of bread, some wine, and a cake of raisins. (KJV also says he gave everyone a
good piece of flesh. This infers than many animals would have had to be slaughtered to
provide these “good pieces of flesh” to everyone.)

a c e g
See verse 16; 1 Exodus 15:20; Psalm See verse 19: 1 [h]~ stretched
Chronicles 15:25-29 30:11 Chronicles 16:1-3 h
1 Kings 8:5,62,63
b d f
1 Chronicles 15:26 1 Samuel 2:18 1 Chronicles 16:1 i
1 Kings 8:14,55

19
 20. Then David returned to his own house to bless his household. And Michal, the
a

daughter of Saul, came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the
king of Israel today, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids
of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21. *** And David said unto Michal, (his first wife), “It was before the LORD, bwhich
chose me before thy father, and before all of his house, to appoint me ruler
over ruler the people of the LORD, over Israel: Therefore, will I play before the
LORD.
22. “And I will yet be viler than you, and will be base in my own sight: and of the
maidservants which you have spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.”
23. *** Therefore, Michal, the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her
death.
When this celebration was over, and everyone had returned to their homes, David
returned to bless his own family.
Throughout all-of these proceedings, there is no mention of what the High Priest was
doing. Was the high Priest even involved in the return of the Ark of the City of David or
not? The reason I ask, is that the scripture tells us that David is wearing the priestly
ephod, which is reserved for “Special Priests.”
But Michal, David’s first wife, (Saul’s daughter), came out to meet, and exclaimed in
disgust, “How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the girls
along the street, like a common pervert!”
David retorted, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father, and
his whole family, and who appointed me as leader of Israel, who are the people of the
LORD! So, I am willing to act like a fool, in order to show my joy in the LORD. Yes, and
I am willing to look even more foolish than this, but in doing so, I will be respected by
the girls that you spoke of.”
So, The LORD closed up Michal’s womb, and she remained childless through the rest of
her life.

CHAPTER SEVEN: GOD’S PROMISES TO DAVID, BY NATHAN THE PROPHET

1. And it came to pass, cwhen the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given
him rest roundabout from all of his enemies;
2. That the king said unto dNathan the Prophet, “See now, I dwell in ea house of
cedar, but the Ark of God dwells within fcurtains.”
3. And Nathan said to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart; for the LORD
is with thee.”
When the LORD finally sent peace upon the nation of Israel, and the nation was no
longer at war with the surrounding nations, David said to Nathan the Prophet, “Look!
Here I am living in this beautiful cedar palace, while the Ark of God is out in a tent!”
And Nathan replied: “Go ahead with what you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan
saying,
5. “Go and tell gmy servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, Shall you build me a
house for me to dwell in?’
6. ‘Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I bought up the
children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in ha tent and
in a tabernacle.
7. In all-of the places that I have walked with all-of the children of Israel, spoke
I a word with iany of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded jto feed my people
Israel, saying, ‘Why build ye not me a house of cedar?’

a c f i
1 Chronicles 16:43 See verse 29; 1 Exodus 26:1 [h]~ any of the
b
1 Samuel 13:14; Chronicles 17:1-27 g
[h]~ to my servant, judges; 1 Chronicles
15:28 d
See verse 17 to David 17:6
j
e
5:1 h
Exodus 40: 18,19,34 5:2

20
 8. *** “Now Therefore, shall you say unto my servant David, ‘Thus says the
LORD, aI took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler
over my people, over Israel:
9. [FP] ‘And bI was thee, withersoever you went, and have cut off all-of thine
enemies, cout of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the
name of the great men that are in the earth.
10. [P] ‘Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will dplant them,
that they may dwell in a place of their own, and emove no more; neither shall
the children of wickedness afflict them anymore, as before time,
11. [P] ‘And as fsince the time that I commanded judges to be over my people
Israel, and have gcaused them to rest from all-of thine enemies. Also, the Lord
tells thee hthat He will make thee a house’.”
That same night, the Lord spoke to Nathan the prophet saying, “Tell my servant, David,
not to do it! Tell him not to build a house for me to live in! For I have never lived in a
Temple. My home has been in a tent ever since I brought Israel out of captivity in Egypt.
And I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders, the shepherds of my people. Have
I ever asked them, ‘Why haven’t you built me a beautiful temple?’
“Now go and give this message to David from the LORD of Heaven; ‘I chose you to be a
leader of my people Israel, when you were a mere shepherd, tending your sheep in the
pastureland. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have destroyed your
enemies. And I will make your name greater yet, so that you will be one of the most
famous men in the world! I have selected a permanent homeland for my people, from
which they will never have to move. It will be their own land, where the heathen nations
won’t bother them as they did when the judges ruled my people. There will be no more
wars against you; and your descendants shall rule this land for generations to come!’
Now this is a pretty clear promise from God Almighty, the creator of the universe. He
will allocate land for the people of Israel. He will decide its borders, and He will protect
this land, and the people living on this land. Any nation, or religion, which does not
respect God’s laws and God’s promises in his word, are in direct rebellion against God
Almighty, and they will face judgement, punishment, and possible destruction, so be
warned!
12. [P] “And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, iI
will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will
establish his kingdom.
13. [P] “jHe shall build a house for my name, and I will kestablish the throne of his
kingdom for ever.
14. [P] “lI will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will
chasten him, with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15. [P] “But my mercy shall not depart away from him, As I took it from Saul,
whom I put away before thee.
16. [P] “And thy house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee;
m
thy throne shall be established forever.”
17. According to all-of these words, and according to all-of this nvision, so did
Nathan speak unto David.
Nathan continued with the prophecy, given by the LORD, for King David; “For when you
die, I will put one of your sons upon your throne, and I will make his kingdom strong.
He is the one who will build me a temple; and I will continue his kingdom into eternity.
I will be His Father and He will be My Son. If he sins, then I will use other nations to
punish him, BUT my love and kindness shall not leave him, as I took it from Saul, your

a f k n
1 Samuel 16:11 Judges 2:14-16 Psalm 89: 4,29,36,37 Isaiah 22:1,5:
b
1 Samuel 18:14 g
See verse 1 l
Psalm 89:26,27,30- compare with verse 4
c
[h]~ from thy face h
1 Samuel 2:35 33
m
d
Psalm 44:2; 80:8 i
1 Kings 8:20; Psalm See verse 13;
e 132:11 Compare Luke 1:33
2 Kings 21:8
j
1 Kings 5:5

21
predecessor.”
Many Christians say that the Lord’s love & kindness endures forever ~ but here is a clear
case where God Himself says that He “withdrew His love and His kindness from Saul,”
because he disobeyed God’s instructions TWICE! If God can do it for a king, He can do
it for any one of us, because God is sovereign, and He can deal with our rebellion any
way He chooses!
“Your family shall rule My Kingdom forever!” So, Nathan went back to David and told
him everything that the LORD had said to him.
18. Then David went into (the Tabernacle) and sat before the LORD, and He said,
“aWho am I, O LORD God; and what is my house, that you have brought me
hitherto?
19. “And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O LORD God; by you have also
spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. bAnd is this the
c
manner of man, O LORD God?
20. “And what can David say more than thee? For you, LORD God dknows thy
servant.
21. “For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, you have done all-of
these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22. “Wherefore, eyou are great, O LORD God: for fthere is none like thee, neither
is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23. “And gwhat one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom
God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make Him a name, and to
do for you, hgreat things and terrible, for thy land, before the people, which
you redeemed to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24. “For you have iconfirmed to thyself thy people Israel, to be a people unto thee
forever: and you, LORD, have become their God!
25. “And now, O LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning thy servant,
and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as you have said.
26. “And let thy name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD God of Hosts, is the
God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before
thee.
27. *** “For thou, O LORD of Hosts, The God of Israel, has jrevealed to thy servant,
saying, ‘I will build thee a house: therefore, has thy servant found in his heart
to pray this prayer unto thee.
28. “And now, O LORD God, you are that God, and kthy words be true, and you
have promised this goodness unto thy servant.
29. *** “Therefore, now llet is please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that
it may continue for ever before thee: for you, O LORD God, have spoken it:
and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever.
Then David went inside the Tabernacle, and sat before the LORD and prayed. “O LORD
God, why have you showered your favour and your blessings on such an insignificant
person I am? And now, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me an eternal
dynasty! Such generosity is far beyond any human standard! Oh, LORD God! What can
I say? For you know what I am like!
“You are doing all-of these things just because you promised to, and because you want
to! How great you are, LORD God! We have never heard of any other God like you. And
there is no other god. What other nations in all-of the earth have received such blessings
as Israel, your people? For you have rescued your chosen nation in order to bring glory
and honour to your name. You have done great miracles to destroy Egypt and its gods.
“You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you became our God.

a f i l
Genesis 32:10 Exodus 15:11 Deuteronomy 26:18 [h]~ be thou pleased
b
Isaiah 55:8 g
Deuteronomy 4:7, j
[h]~ opened the ear; and bless
c
[h]~ law 32,34; 33:29; Psalm 1 Samuel 20:2
d 147:20 k
John 17:17
Psalm 139:1-4 h
e Deuteronomy 10:21
Psalm 48:1

22
“And now, LORD God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. And may
you be eternally honoured when you have established Israel, as your people and have
established my dynasty before you. For you have revealed to me, O LORD of Heaven,
God of Israel, that I am the first of a dynasty, which will rule your people forever; that
is why I have been bold enough to pray this prayer of acceptance. For you are indeed
God, and your words are truth: and you have promised me these good things ~ so do
as you have promised! Bless me and my family forever! May our dynasty continue on
and on before you; for you, LORD God, have promised it.”

CHAPTER EIGHT: DAVID SUBDUES HIS ENEMIES

1. And after this, it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued
them: And David took aMethegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2. And bHe smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to
the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full
line to keep alive. And so, the Moabites cbecame David’s servants, and dbrought
gifts.
After these events, David subdued and humbled the Philistines, by capturing Gath, their
largest city; The same city where he had gone many years previously to seek protection
from King Saul.
He also devastated the land of Moab. He divided his victims by making them lie down,
side by side, in rows. Two-thirds of each row, as measured by a tape, were butchered,
and one third were spared to become David’s servants ~ they paid him tribute every
year.
3. David smote also eHadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of fZobah, as he went to
recover his (Biblical) border at the River Euphrates.
4. And David took gfrom him, one thousand chariots, and seven hundred
horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hhoughed all the chariot
horses, but reserved from them for one hundred chariots.
5. i
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah,
David slew of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men.
6. Then David put jgarrisons in Syria of kDamascus: and the Syrians became
servants of David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David
withersoever he went.
7. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and
brought them to Jerusalem.
8. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took
exceeding much brass.
David also destroyed the forces of King Hadadezer, (son of Rehob) of Zobah, in a battle
at the Euphrates river, one of the “Biblical borders” of Israel. This was because
Hadadezer had attempted to regain his power. In this battle, David captured 1,700
cavalry and 20,000 infantry soldiers; then he lamed all-of the chariot horse teams,
except for 100 teams, to be used at ceremonial occasions. He also slaughtered 22,000
Syrians from Damascus, when they came to help Hadadezer.
David placed several army garrisons in Damascus, and the Syrians became David’s
subjects, and brought him annual tribute money. So maybe looking at the Middle East,
you may now start to understand where the hatred comes from; it has been brewing for
over 2,000 years.
David brought the gold shields to Jerusalem which King Hadadezer’s officers used. He
also carried back to Jerusalem a very large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s cities of
Betah and Berothai.

a d h k
[h]~ the bridle of 2 Kings 17:3 [h]~ to hamstring the 1 Kings 11:24
Ammah e
[h]~ Or, Hadarezer horses
b i
Exodus 15:11 f
1 Samuel 14:47 1 Kings 11:23-25
c j
Numbers 24:17 g 1 Samuel 10:5

23
 9. When Toi, King aof Hamath heard that David had smitten all of the host of
Hadadezer,
10. Then Toi sent bJoram, his son unto King David, to csalute him, and to bless him,
because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had
wars with Toi. And Joram dbrought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of
gold, and vessels of brass.
11. Which also King David edid dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold
which he had dedicated from all of the nations he had subdued.
12. Of Syria, and of Moab, and fof the children of Ammon, and gof the Philistines,
and hof Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13. And David gat him a name when he returned from ismiting the Syrians, in the
valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
David dedicated all-of these spoils of war to the LORD, along with the silver and the gold
he had taken from Syria, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and King Hadadezer.
So, David became very famous. After his return, he destroyed 18,000 Edomites
(Syrians) at the valley of salt.
14. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all of Edom he put garrisons. And
all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went.
15. And David reigned over all-of Israel; and David executed judgement and justice
unto all-of his people.
16. j
And kJoab, the son of Zeruiah was over the host: and lJehoshaphat, the son of
Ahilud, was mrecorder.
17. And nZadok, the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech, the son of Abiathar were the
priests; and Seraiah was the oscribe.
18. And pBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the qCherethites and the
r
Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief rulers.
And David then placed garrisons throughout all-of Edom, so that the entire nation was
forced to pay tribute to Israel ~ another example of the way the LORD made him
victorious wherever he went.
David reigned with true justice over Israel, and was fair to everyone, irrespective of their
status.
The general of his army was Joab (son of Zeruiah), and his secretary of state was
Jehoshaphat (son of Ahilud). Zadok (son of Ahitub) and Ahimelech (son of Abiathar)
were the high priests [the two lines of the priesthood established, which shall remain
until Christ returns.] Seraiah was the King’s private secretary. Benaiah (son of Jehoiada)
was captain of his bodyguard, (the Cherethites & the Pelethites), and David’s sons were
his assistants, in governing the nations.

CHAPTER NINE: DAVID SENDS FOR MEPHIBOSHETH

1. And David said, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may
show him kindness, for Jonathan’s sake?”
2. And there was of the house of Saul, a servant, whose name was sZiba. And
when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, “Art thou Ziba?”
And he replied, “Thy servant is he.”

a f l p
1 Kings 8:65,71 See 10:14 1 Kings 4:3 1 Kings 1:8; 2:25,
b
1 Chronicles 18:10; g
5:17 m
[h]~ remembrancer, 29, 34,35, 46; 4:4; 1
also known as h OR, the writer of Chronicles 11:22,24;
1 Samuel 30:20
Hodoram i Chronicles 27:5, 34
[h]~ his smiting q
c
[h]~ ask him of peace jj
n
1 Chronicles 6:8 1 Samuel 30:14
See verse 18; r
d
[h]~ in his hand were o
[h]~ Or secretary 15:18; 20:7; 1 Kings
20:23-26
e 1:38
1 Kings 7:51 k
2:32 s
16:1-4; 19:17, 29

24
 3. And the king said, “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show
a
the kindness of God unto him?” And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan has yet
a son, which is lame on his feet.”
4. And the king said unto him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said unto the king,
“Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.”
One day, David began wondering if there were any of Saul’s family still living, for he
wanted to be kind to them, remembering his covenant promise to Jonathan. He
heard about a man named Ziba, who had previously been one of Saul’s servants,
so he summoned him.
“Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” he replied. The king then asked him, “Is
there anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to fulfill a sacred vow, by
being kind to him.”
“Yes, Jonathan’s lame son is still alive,” he replied. “Where is he?” the king asked.
“In Lodebar,” Ziba informed him. “He lives in the house of Machir.”
5. Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of
Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6. Now when bMephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto
David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, “Mephibosheth.”
And he answered, “Behold thy servant.”
When you make a covenant before God, you have to keep it, if you want God to continue
to bless and protect you. That is a hard lesson for many Christians to learn.
So, King David sent for Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, and Saul’s grandson, to come to
the palace. Mephibosheth arrived in great fear, thinking he could be murdered, being
the last surviving member of the Saul lineage, and greeted the king in deep humility,
bowing low before him.
7. And David said unto him, “Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for
Jonathan thy father’s sake, and I will restore to thee, all the land of Saul thy
father; and thou shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8. And he bowed himself, and said, “What is thy servant, that thou should look
upon such ca dead dog as I am?”
But David said to Mephibosheth, “Don’t be afraid! I’ve asked you to come here, so that
I can be kind to you, because of my covenant vow to your father Jonathan. I will restore
to you all-of the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you shall live here in
the palace!”
Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. “Should the king show kindness to a
dead dog like me?” he exclaimed.
9. Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, “I have given
unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10. *** “You therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the lands for him,
and you shall bring the fruits, that thy master’s son, may have food to eat: but
Mephibosheth, thy master’s son, dshall eat bread always at my table.” Now Ziba
had efifteen sons and twenty servants.
11. Then said Ziba unto the king, “According to all that my lord the king has
commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said
the king, “He shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.”
12. And Mephibosheth had a young son, fwhose name was Micha. And all that dwelt
in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
13. So, Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s
table; and was lame on both his feet.
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba. “I have given your master’s grandson,
everything that belonged to Saul and his family,” he said. “You and your sons and your

a b c e
1 Samuel 20:14 [h]~ also called 1 Samuel 24:14; 2 19:17
Merib-baal, 1 Samuel 16:9 f
1 Chronicles 8:34
Chronicles 8:34 d
19:28; 1 Kings 2:7

25
servants, are to farm the lands for him, to produce food for his family; but he will live
here in Jerusalem with me.”
Ziba, who had 15 sons and 20 servants, replied, “Sir, I will do all that you have
commanded of me, my sons, and my servants.”
And from that time onwards, Mephibosheth ate regularly with King David, as though he
was one of his own sons. Mephibosheth had a young son, Micha. All-of the household of
Ziba became Mephibosheth’s servants, by Mephibosheth, who was lame in both feet,
moved to Jerusalem, to live at King David’s palace.

CHAPTER TEN: DAVID’S MESSENGERS ABUSED BY HANUN.

1. a
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the bchildren of Ammon died,
and Hanun, his son, reigned in his stead.
2. Then David said, “cI will show kindness unto Hanun, the son of Nahash, as his
father showed kindness unto me.” And David sent to comfort him by the hand
of his servants, for his father.
3. And the princes of the children of Ammon, said unto Hanun their lord,
“dThinkest thou that David does honour thy father, that he has sent comforters
unto thee? Has David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search out the
city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”
This is the same situation in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent said: “Did God really
say that you cannot eat of this tree?” Here we have the princes putting doubt into
the mind of their king, causing him to think evil of a genuinely good deed.
Therefore, the king makes the wrong decision!
4. Wherefore, Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off one half of their
beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and
sent them away.
5. When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were
greatly ashamed: and the king said, “Tarry at Jericho until your beards have
grown, and then return.
Sometime after this, the Ammonite king died and his son Hanun, reigned in his stead.
“I am going to show special respect for him,” David said, “because his father Nahash
was always so loyal and kind to me.”
So, David sent ambassadors to express regrets to Hanun, after his father’s death. But
Hanun’s officers told him, “These men are not here to honour your father! David has
sent them here to spy out the city, before attacking it!”
So, Hanun listened to the doubt placed into his mind by his own officers and made a
terrible mistake. Hanun took David’s men, and shaved off half of their beards, and cut
off their robes at their buttocks and sent them home half naked, with their backsides
exposed.
When David heard what had happened, he told them to remain in Jericho until their
beards grew out; for the men were very embarrassed over their appearance.
6. And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children
of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba,
twenty thousand footmen, and the king of eMaacah one thousand men, and of
f
Ishtob, twelve thousand men.
7. And when David heard of it, He sent Joab (his general) and all-of the host of
g
the mighty men.
8. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering
of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah,
were by themselves in the field.

a c e g
See verse 19; 1 9:1 Joshua 13:11,13; 1 23:8
Chronicles 19:1-19 d
[h]~ in thine eyes Chronicles 19:6,7
b f
1 Samuel 11:1 does David [h]~ the men of Tob

26
 9. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind,
he chose of all-of the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the
Syrians.
10. And the rest of the army, he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that
he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11. [CP] And he said, “IF the Syrians be too strong for me, THEN you shall help
me; but IF the children of Ammon for you, THEN I will come to help you.
12. “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities
of our God: and the LORD do that which seems Him good.”
13. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against
the Syrians; and they fled before him.
14. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they
also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So, Joab, returned from the
children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
Now, the people of Ammon realised how seriously they had angered David, so instead
of apologising, and admitting their mistake, they hired twenty thousand Syrians
mercenaries from the lands of Rehob and Zobah, one thousand from the king of Maacah,
and ten thousanda from the land of Tob.
When David heard about this, he sent General Joab and the entire Israeli army to attack
them. The Ammonites defended the gates of their city, while the Syrian mercenaries
from Zobah, Rehob, Tob, and Maacah fought in the fields.
When Joab realised that he would have to fight on two fronts, he selected the best
fighters in his army, and placed them under his own personal command, and took them
out to fight the Syrians in the field. He left the rest of the army to his brother Abishai,
who was to attack the gates of the city.
“If I need assistance, against the Syrians, come out and help me,” Joab instructed him.
“And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you. Courage! We
must really act like men today, if we are going to save our people and the cities of our
God. May the LORD’s will be done!”
And when Joab and his troops attacked, the Syrians began to run away. Then, when the
Ammonites saw the Syrians running, they ran too, and retreated into the city. Afterwards
and his army returned to Jerusalem.
15. And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered
themselves together.
16. And bHadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond cthe river:
and they came to Helam; Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went
before them.
17. And when it was told David, he gathered all-of Israel together, and passed over
the Jordan (River) and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array
against David, and fought with him.
18. And the Syrians fled again before Israel; and David slew the men of seven
hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote
Shobach, the captain of their host, who died there.
19. And when all the kings that were servants of Hadarezer saw that they were
smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So, the
Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
The Syrians now realised that they were no match for Israel. Back then they realised it,
but not now! Sadly, history shall repeat itself sooner or later and again Syria shall be
defeated by Israel!
So, the Syrians re-grouped and were joined by additional Syrian troops, summoned by
Hadadezer from the other side of the Euphrates River. These troops arrived at Helam,
under the command of Shobach, the commander-in-chief of all-of Hadadezer’s forces.

a b c
KJV says 12,000 8:3; Also called [h]~ Euphrates River
men of Tob Hadadezer

27
When David heard what was happening, he personally led the Israeli army to Helam,
where the Syrians attacked him.
But again, the Syrians fled from the Israelis, but this time leaving 700 charioteers dead
on the field, also 40,000 cavalrymen, including General Shobach.
When Hadadezer’s allies saw that the Syrians had been defeated, they surrendered to
David, and became his servants. And the Syrians were afraid to help the Ammonites
anymore after that.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: DAVID’S ADULTERY ~ URIAH SLAIN IN BATTLE

Up until now, David has killed many people in battle, in obedience to God’s instructions,
but now he premeditates the murder of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba.
Many Christians do not understand the difference between the two, (killing & murder)
and it goes right back to the translation of the 7th Commandment given to Moses in
Exodus chapter 20:13. In most translations it says: “thou shall not kill”, but in fact it
should say: “thou shall not murder”.
Why do I say that? Because God is a Holy God and he would never tell His servants to
do something that contradicts His word. God would never tell Moses, or Joshua, or David,
or the army of Israel, to go and kill their enemies, if the Word of God says that this is a
sin.
That is the reason that David is not allowed to build the Temple for God, not because he
had “blood on his hands”, but because he had “innocent blood” on his hands.

1. And it came to pass aafter the year had expired, at the time when the kings go
forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all-of
Israel: and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But
David tarried still in Jerusalem.
2. And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose off his bed, and walked upon
b
the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof, he saw a woman washing
herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, “Is not this
c
Bathsheba, the daughter of dEliam, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite.”
4. And David sent messengers and took her: and she ecame in unto him, and he
lay with her: ffor she was purified from her uncleanness; and she returned unto
her house.
5. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, “I am with child.”
In the spring of the following year, at the time when wars begin, David sent Joab and
the Israeli Army to destroy the Ammonites. He began this task by laying siege to Rabbah.
But David remained in his palace in Jerusalem.
One night he could not get to sleep, and went for a walk on the palace roof. As he looked
over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking her evening bath. He asked
who she was and was told it was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, and the wife of
Uriah.
Up until this moment, David has not committed a sin, because he did not go up onto the
roof of the palace, with the intention of spying on a woman taking a bath. But what was
in his mind now moved to his heart, and this is where the problem starts.
David sent for her, and as an obedient servant she came. He slept with her, thus
committing adultery, because he already knew that she was married to Uriah. [She has

a
[h]~ at the return of b
1 Samuel 9:25,26; d
[h]~ Or. Ammiel she returned to her
the year; 1 Kings Matthew 24:17; Acts e house.
Psalm 51 Title
20:22,26; 2 16:9 f
[h]~ Or, and when she
Chronicles 36:10 c
[h]~ Or. Bathshuah had purified herself,

28
just completed the purification rites after menstruation]. Then she returned home, now
also a sinner.
When she found out that David had gotten her pregnant, she sent him a message to
inform him that she was with child.
6. And David sent to Joab saying, “Send my Uriah, the Hittite.” And Joab sent
Uriah to David.
7. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him, ahow Joab did,
and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8. And David said to Uriah, “Go down to thy house, and bwash thy feet,” And Uriah
departed out of the king’s house, and there cfollowed him da mess of meat from
the king.
9. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house, with all-of the servants of the
lord, and went not down to his house.
10. And when they had told David, saying, “Uriah went not down unto his house”,
David said unto Uriah, “Comest thou not from thy journey? Why then did you
not go down to thine house?”
11. And Uriah said to David, “eThe ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and
my lord Joab, and fthe servants of my lord, are camped in the open fields; shall
I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lay with my wife? As you
live and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”
12. And David said to Uriah, “Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee
depart.” So, Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink; and he made him drunk:
and at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of the lord, but
went not to his house.
So, David dispatched a memo to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” When Uriah arrived,
David asked him how was Joab, and the army and how was the war progressing ~ just
general conversation. Now thinking that David could cover up his adultery, he told Uriah
to go home and relax, and sleep with his wife.
But Uriah did not go home to his wife. He stayed that night at the gateway of the palace,
with the other servants of the king.
When David heard what Uriah had done, he summoned him and asked him, “What’s the
matter with you? Why didn’t you go home to your wife last night after being away for
so long?”
Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies, and the general and his officers are camping out
in the open fields, and should I therefore go home and wine and dine and sleep with my
wife? I swear I will never be guilty of acting like that.”
“Well stay here tonight and tomorrow you can go back to the army,” David told him. So,
Uriah stayed around the palace. David invited him to dinner and got him drunk: but
even so, he still did not go home that night, but again slept at the entry to the palace.
14. And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent
it by the hand of Uriah.
15. And he wrote in the letter, saying, ‘Set you Uriah in the forefront of the ghottest
battle, and retire you hfrom him, that he may ibe smitten and die.’
16. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto
a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab, and there fell some of
the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Finally, the next morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. It
was in effect his death warrant.

a d g
[h]~ the peace of, Genesis 43:34; [h]~ strong
b
Genesis 19:2 Esther 2:18 h
[h]~ from after him
e
c
[h]~ went out after 7:2,6 i
12:9
f
him See verse 13: 20:6

29
The letter instructed Joab to put Uriah at the front of the fiercest part of the battle ~
and then pull back and leave him there to die! So, under these orders from his king, he
put Uriah close to the besieged city, where he knew the enemies best men, were fighting;
and Uriah was killed along with several other Israeli soldiers.
18. Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19. And charged the messenger saying, “When you have made and end to telling
the matters of the war to the king,
20. And if be so that the king’s anger rises and he says unto you, ‘Wherefore you
approached so nigh unto the city, when you did fight? Knew you not that they
would shoot from the wall?
21. ‘Who smote Abimelech, the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast a piece
of a millstone from the wall that he died in Thebez? Why went you near the
wall’?” Then say you, ‘Thy servant Uriah is dead also’.
When Joab sent a report to David of how the battle was progressing, he told his
messenger, “If the king is angry and asks, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city?
‘Didn’t they know that there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn’t Abimelech killed
at Thebez when a woman threw a piece of millstone down upon his head?’ Then tell him,
‘Uriah was killed in this battle too’.”
22. So, the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent
him for.
23. And the messenger said unto David, “Surely the men prevailed against us, and
came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even to the entering
of the gate.
24. “And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the
king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25. Then David said unto the messenger, “Thus shall you say unto Joab, ‘Let not
this thing displease thee, for the sword devours one as well as another: make
the battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou
him’.”
So, the messenger arrived at Jerusalem, and gave the report to David. “The enemy
came out against us,” he said, “and we chased them back to the city gates, where the
men on the wall attacked us; and some of our men were killed, and Uriah the Hittite is
dead too.”
“Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword kills one as well as
another! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city: tell him his is doing well.”
26. And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she
mourned for her husband.
27. And when the mourning had past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and
she abecame his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done
b
displeased the LORD.
When Bathsheba heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him; then, when
the period of mourning was over, David sent for her, and brought her to the palace, and
she became one of his wives; and she gave birth to his son. But the LORD was very
displeased with what David had done. Firstly, committing adultery with Bathsheba, and
then arranging for her husband Uriah, to be murdered in battle, and then, to make
matters worse, to bring this sin into the palace, in full sight of all-of Israel. God could
not let this sin go unpunished, and in the next chapter we see how God deals with this
sin.

CHAPTER TWELVE: GOD JUDGES DAVID’S SIN

a b
12:9 Was evil in the eyes
of the LORD

30
Even if you are a person “after God’s own heart”, you cannot escape the impact of sin
upon your life ~ it has to be dealt with! God sends the Prophet to pronounce the
punishment for King David and Bathsheba.

1. And the LORD sent aNathan (the Prophet) unto David. And came unto him,
and said unto him, “bThere were two men in one city; the one rich and the
other poor.
2. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds;
3. “But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb; and it grew up
together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own cmeat, and drank
of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4. “And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his
own flock, and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come
unto him: but he took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed if for the man that
was come to him.
5. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man: and he said to Nathan,
“As the Lord lives, that man that has done this thing, dshall surely die:
6. And he shall restore the lamb efourfold, because he did this thing, and because
he had no pity.”
Now God could have sent Nathan to David to tell him he had sinned, but he sent him to
hear a story, so that David could see the injustice of what he had done, so that he
recognises his own sin.
So, the LORD sent the Prophet Nathan to tell David this story; “There were two men in
a certain city, one very rich, owning many flocks of sheep, and herds of goats, and the
other, very poor, owning nothing, but a little lamb he had managed to buy. It was his
children’s pet, and he fed it from his own plate, and let it drink from his own cup; he
cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.
“Recently, a guest arrived at the rich man’s house; But instead of killing a lamb from his
own flocks, for food for the traveller, he took the poor man’s lamb, killed it and roasted
it, and served it to his guest.”
David was furious. “I swear by the Living God,” he vowed, “any man that would do a
thing like that should be put to death; he shall repay four lambs to the poor man for the
one he stole, and for having no pity.”
7. And Nathan said to David, “You are that man! Thus says the LORD God of
Israel, ‘I fanointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hands
of Saul;
8. ‘And I gave you thy master’s house, and gthy master’s wives into thy bosom,
and gave you the house of Israel, and of Judah: and if that had been too little,
I would moreover have given unto you such and such things.
9. ‘Wherefore have you despised the commandments of the LORD, to do evil in
His sight? hYou have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and you have taken
his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of
Ammon.
10. ***[P] ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from thine house; because
you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your
wife.
11. [P] ‘Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee, out of your
own house, and I will itake thy wives before your eyes, and give them unto
your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

a c e i
7:2-17; Psalm 51 [h]~ morsel Exodus 22:1; Luke Deuteronomy 28:30;
Title d
[h]~ is worthy to 19:8 16:22
b f
Compare with Judges die, OR, is the son of 1 Samuel 16:13
9:8-15; 2 Samuel; 1 death; 1 Samuel g
Compare 3:7; &
Kings 20:4:535-41; 26:16; see also 1 16:21: 1 Kings 2:22
Isaiah 5:1-7 Samuel 20:31 h
11:15-17,27

31
 12. [P] ‘For you did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all-of Israel, and
before the sun.
13. a
And David said unto Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan
said unto David, “The Lord had put away your sin; you shall not die. [This is
because David had said in verse 5, ‘that the man that has done this thing shall
die’].
14. [P] “Howbeit, because by this deed (sin) you have given great occasion to the
enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall
surely die.”
And Nathan said to David, “YOU are the rich man! The LORD God of Israel says; ‘I made
you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you his palace and his
wives, and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah; and if that had not been enough, I would
have given you much, much more.
Why then have you despised the Laws of God and done this horrible deed? For you have
murdered Uriah, and stolen his wife.
*** Therefore, murder shall be a constant threat in your family from this time forward,
because you have insulted Me by taking Uriah’s wife. I, the LORD God of Israel vow, that
because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I
will give your wives to another man, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You
did it in secret, but I will do this to you openly, in the sight of all-of Israel’.”
“I have sinned against the LORD.” David confessed to Nathan.
Many people cannot understand this next part of scripture. Why should David, who
sinned, be allowed to live, and the “innocent baby” have to die?
Then Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD had forgiven you, and you won’t die for this
sin. But you have given great opportunity to the enemies of the LORD to despise and
blaspheme Him, so your child shall die.”
WHAT YOU SOW YOU SHALL REAP! YOU SOWED SIN, SO YOU SHALL REAP SIN!
[Therefore, the sin of the father shall be upon his children.]
15. And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s
wife bore unto David, and it was very sick.
16. David therefore besought God for the child: and David bfasted, and went in,
and clay all night upon the earth.
17. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the
earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18. [FP] And it came to pass, on the seventh day, that the child died. And the
servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said,
“Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke unto him, and he would not
hearken unto our voice: how will he then dvex himself, if we tell him that the
child is dead?”
19. But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child
was dead: therefore, David said unto his servants, “Is the child dead?” And
they said, “He is dead.”
20. Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and
changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and eworshipped:
then he came into his own house; and when he required, they set bread before
him, and he did eat.
21. Then said his servants unto him, “What thing is this that you have done? You
did fast and weep for the child while he was alive; but when the child was dead,
you did rise and eat bread.”
22. And he said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: ffor I said, ‘Who
can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23. ‘But now that the child is dead, wherefore shall I fast? Can I bring him back
again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me’.”

a b d f
Compare with 1 [h]~ fasted a fast [h]~ do hurt Jonah 3:9; Compare
Samuel 15:24 c
13:31 e
Job 1:20 Isaiah 38: 1-5

32
Then Nathan returned to his home. And the LORD made Bathsheba’s baby deathly sick.
Now for all-of those people who state that God never puts sickness on people, please go
back and read these scriptures again! Under certain situations, GOD does put sickness
upon people. He put a “tormenting spirit” upon King Saul, and now here He has put a
deadly sickness upon the child.
David begged the LORD to spare the child, and went without food and lay all night before
the LORD on the bare earth.
The leaders of the nation pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.
Then, on the seventh day, (the day of completeness) the baby died. David’s aides were
afraid to tell him.
“He was so broken up about the baby being sick,” they said, “what will he do to himself
when we tell him that the child is dead?”
But when David saw them whispering amongst themselves, he realised what had
happened. “Is the baby dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “He is.”
Then David got up off the ground, washed himself, brushed his hair, changed his clothes,
and went into the tabernacle of the LORD and worshipped Him. Then he returned to the
palace and ate a meal. His aides were all amazed.
“We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the baby was still living, you wept and
refused to eat; but now that the baby is dead, you have stopped your mourning and
started eating again.”
David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said to myself, ‘Perhaps
the LORD will be gracious to me, and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when the
child is dead? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to
me.”
24. And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with
her; and ashe bore a son, and bhe called his name Solomon: and the LORD
loved him.
25. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name
c
Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
Then David comforted Bathsheba; and when he slept with her, she conceived, and gave
birth to a son and named him Solomon. And the LORD loved this baby, and sent
congratulations and blessings through Nathan the Prophet. David nicknamed the baby
Jedidiah ~ (meaning “Beloved of Jehovah”), because of the LORD’s interest.
And while this was all happening, Joab was still at war against the Ammonites.
26. And dJoab fought against eRabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal
city.
27. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah,
and have taken the city of waters.
28. *** “Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together, and encamp
against the city, and take it: lest I take the city and fit be called after my name.
29. And David gathered all-of the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought
against it and took it.
30. g
And he took the king’s crown off his head, the weight thereof was a talent of
gold, with precious stones; and it was set on David’s head. And he brought the
spoil of the city hin great abundance.
31. And he brought forth the people therein, and put them under saws, and under
harrows of iron, and made them pass through brick kilns: and thus, did he unto
all-of the cities of the children of Ammon. So, David and all-of the people
returned unto Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Joab and the army were successfully ending the siege of Rabbah, the capital
of Ammon. Joab sent messengers to tell David, “Rabbah and its beautiful harbour is

a c e h
Matthew 1:6 [h]~ that is, 11:1,17 [h]~ very great
b
Compare 1 “beloved of the f
[h]~ my name be
Chronicles 22:9 LORD.” called upon it
d
1 Chronicles 20:1 g
See verse 31

33
ours! So, now bring the rest of the army and finish the job, so that you will get the credit
for the victory, instead of me.”
So, David led his army to Rabbah and captured it. Tremendous amounts of loot were
carried back to Jerusalem, and David took the king of Rabbah’s crown ~ a $50,000
treasure, made from solid gold set with gems, and placed it upon his own head.
He made slaves of the people of the city, and made them labour with saws, picks, and
axes, and work in the brick kilns, that is the way that he treated all-of the cities of the
Ammonites. Then David and the army returned to Jerusalem.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: AMNON FORCES TAMAR

In this chapter we see a common thread running through the narrative of 1 & 2 Samuel.
Eli, the high priest, failed to discipline his sons, for their evil doings in the temple, and
God sent a prophet to warn Eli, but he ignored the warning.
Then God sent a second warning through Samuel, as a young boy, and Eli accepted
God’s decision without disciplining his 2 sons. Hence Eli and his 2 sons were all killed on
the same day.
Yet, sadly, Samuel did not learn from the warning that God gave through him to Eli, and
Samuel did not discipline his own sons either. This led to the appointment of Saul
as king over Israel and Judah.
Here again, Saul sinned against God TWICE, and then God killed Saul and his 3
sons in a battle on the same day.
In this chapter, we see the promised violence that, Nathan the prophet had proclaimed
over David and his family start to happen. God’s Word always comes to pass ~
whether we like it~ or not!
1. And it came after this, athat Absalom, the son of David, had a fair sister, whose
name was bTamar; and Amnon the son of David (her half-brother) loved her.
2. And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick for his sister Tamar, for she was a
virgin: And cAmnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.
3. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of dShimeah,
David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
Sadly Jonadab, is a man with no morals ~ not the sort of person a prince needs for a
friend, especially when he tells him to rape his half-sister.
4. And he said unto him, “Why are you, being the king’s son, elean ffrom day to
day? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said unto him, “I love Tamar, my brother
Absalom’s sister.”
5. And Jonadab said unto him, “lay down on your bed, and make thyself sick: and
when your father comes to see you, say unto him, ‘I pray thee let my sister
Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may
see it and eat it at her hand’.”
Prince Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Prince Amnon, ~
her half-brother ~ (same father, different mother), fell deeply in love with her. Amnon
became so tormented by his love for her that he became ill. He had no way of talking
to her, because of culture, the girls and the young men were kept strictly apart.
But Amnon had a very crafty (wicked) friend, who was his cousin, Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah ~ David’s brother.
One day Jonadab said to Amnon, “What’s the trouble? Why should the son of the king
look so haggard morning after morning?”
So, Amnon told him, “I am in love with Tamar, my half-sister.”
“Well,” Jonadab replied, “I’ll tell you what to do. Go back and pretend that you are sick;
and when your father comes to see you, ask him let Tamar come and prepare food for
you. Tell him you’ll feel better, if she feeds you.”

a c d f
3:2,3 [h]~ it was 1 Samuel 16:9 [h]~ morning by
b
1 Chronicles 3:9 marvellous, OR, e
[h]~ thin morning
hidden in the eyes of
Amnon

34
 6. So, Amnon lay down and made himself sick; and when the king came to see
him. Amnon said to the king, “I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make
me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.”
7. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to thy brother Amnon’s
house, and dress him meat.”
8. [At the commandment of her father, the king.] So, Tamar went to her brother
Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took aflour and kneaded it, and
made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9. And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat.
And Amnon said, “Have out all-of the men from me.” And they went out every
man from him. [Now Amnon has broken culture, by ordering all-of the men to
leave him alone with his half-sister.]
10. And Amnon said unto Tamar, “bring the meat into the chamber that I may eat
of thy hand.” And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and brought them
into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
11. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said
unto her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12. And she answered him, “NO, my brother, do not bforce me; for cno such thing
ought to be done in Israel; Do not thou this folly.
13. *** “And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? And as for you, you shall be
as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king;
for he will not withhold me from you.”
14. Howbeit he would not listen unto her voice: but being stronger that she, forced
her and lay with her.
So, Amnon did as Jonadab his friend had suggested; and when his father, the king came
to see him, Amnon asked him for this favour ~ that his sister Tamar be permitted to
come into the men’s quarters, and cook a little something for him to eat.
David agreed, and sent word to Tamar, to go the Amnon’s quarters and prepare some
food for him. So, she did as commanded by her father, and went into his bedroom so
that he could watch her mix some dough: then she bakes some special bread for him.
But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat it!
“Everyone, get out of here!” he told his servants; so, they all left the apartment. Then
he said to Tamar, “Now bring me the food here again in my bedroom, and feed it to me.”
So, Tamar took it to him. But as she was standing there before him, he grabbed her and
demanded, “Come to bed with me, my darling.”
“Oh Amnon,” she cried, “Don’t be foolish! Don’t do this to me! You know what a serious
crime it is in Israel. Where could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the
greatest fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, for he will let you marry
me.”
[Here we see that Tamar was prepared to marry her half-brother, so that there would
be no shame, or sin within the family ~ but sadly Amnon would not listen to her advice.
His lust was covering his judgement!
But he refused to listen to her; and since he was stronger than she was, he forced her.
But then his lust for her, turned to hate, and he committed a greater sin, by casting her
out, after raping her.
15. Then Amnon hated her dexceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated
her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said to
her, “Arise, be gone.”
16. And she said unto him, “There is no cause: this evil, in sending me away, is
greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not hearken unto her.
17. Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, “Put now this
woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”

a c d
[h]~ paste [h]~ It ought not so [h]~ with much hate
b
[h]~ humble me to be done greatly

35
 18. And she had aa garment of many colours upon her: for such robes were the
king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her
out, and bolted the door after her.
This is clearly a premeditated sin. He ordered all-of the servants out of the apartment,
so that there would be no-one to stop the rape if she screamed, and also no witnesses
to the event taking place, if he was accused of this sin later on. But God has a way of
dealing with this type of crime.
Then suddenly, his love for her turned to hate. Now he hated her more than he had
loved her before, because even seeing her now, reminded him of his sin.
“Get out of here!” he snarled at her. Now that he snarled at her, we know which spirit is
operating in Amnon now.
“No! No!” she cried. “To reject me now is a far greater crime than the other that you did
to me.”
But he would not listen to her. He shouted for his valet and demanded, “Throw this
woman out and lock the door behind her.”
The crime as described in Deuteronomy 22:28-29, is that the man must pay to the
father of the raped woman, 50 shekels of silver and then marry her, to cover her shame.
The fact that Amnon kicks her out, and has no plan to marry her ~ is the greater sin!
19. And Tamar put bashes on her head and rent her garments of various colours
that was on her, and claid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
20. And Absalom her brother said unto her, “Has dAmnon thy brother been with
thee? But hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; eregard not this
thing.” So, Tamar remained fdesolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
So, Amnon’s valet put her out, and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long
robe with sleeves, as was the custom in those days, for virgin daughters of the king.
Now she tore the robe and put ashes on her head, and with her head in her hands, went
away crying.
Her brother Absalom asked her, “Is it true that Amnon raped you? Don’t be so upset,
since it’s all in the family anyway, It’s not anything to worry about, because we can cover
it up!”
This attitude shows a total lack of respect for God’s laws! Irrespective of what family
you belong to ~ no-one is above God’s laws! There will always be judgement at God’s
appointed time!
21. But when David heard of all-of these things, he was very angry.
22. And Absalom spoke unto his brother Amnon, gneither good nor bad: for
Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
When David heard what had happened, he was very angry; but sadly, King David did
not admonish his son, nor punish him in anyway. Absalom said nothing, one way or the
other, about this to Amnon. He was waiting for his father to discipline his brother and he
waited two years.
23. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had hsheepherders in
Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all-of the king’s sons.
24. And Absalom came to the king, and said, “Behold now, thy servant has
sheepherders; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy
servant.
25. And the king said unto Absalom, “No, my son, let us all not go, lest we be
chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit, he would not go, but
blessed him.
26. Then said Absalom, “If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us.” And
the king said unto him, “Why should he go with thee?”

a d g h
Genesis 37:3; Psalm [h]~ Aminon Genesis 24:50; Genesis 31:19;
45:14 e
[h]~ set not thine 31:24 38:12,13; 1 Samuel
b
Joshua 7:6 heart 25:4,36
c f
Jeremiah 2:37 [h]~ and desolate

36
 27. But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all-of the king’s sons go with
him.
However, now Absalom hated his brother, with a deep hatred, because of what he had
done to his sister.
Then, two years later, when Absalom’s sheep were being sheared at Baal Hazor in
Ephraim, Absalom invited his father, and all-of his brothers to come to a feast, to
celebrate the special occasion.
The king replied, “No, my boy; if we all came, we would be too much of a burden on
you.” Absalom pressed him, but he wouldn’t come, though he expressed his thanks for
the invitation.
“Well then,” Absalom said, “if you can’t come, how about sending my brother Amnon
instead?” “Why Amnon?” the king asked.
Absalom kept on urging the matter, until finally the king agreed, and let all-of his sons
attend the feast, including Amnon.
28. Now, Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Mark you now when
Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon;
then kill him, fear not; ahave I not commanded you? Be courageous and be
b
valiant.”
29. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded.
Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man cgot up upon his mule, and fled.
Absalom told his men, “Wait until Amnon gets drunk, then, at my signal, kill him! Don’t
be afraid. I’m the one that gives the orders around here, and this is a command. Take
courage and do it!”
So, they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king, jumped on their mules and
fled!
And it came to pass that while they were on their way, that tidings came to
David saying, “Absalom has slain all-of the King’s sons, and that there is not
one of them left.” [Even way back there, 3,000 years ago, there was “WOKE
NEWS!”]
Then the king arose, and dtore his garments, and elay on the earth; and all-of
his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
Then fJonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let
not my lord suppose that they have slain all-of the young men of the king’s
sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the gappointment of Absalom this has
been hdetermined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
Now therefore, ilet not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think
that all-of the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
j
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes,
and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hillside
behind him.
And Jonadab said unto the king, “Behold, the king’s sons come:” kas the
servants said, “And so it is.”
36. And it came to pass, as soon as he had ceased speaking that, behold, the king’s
sons came, and lifted up their voices and wept: and the king also, and all his
servants wept very sore.
So, they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king, showed their true colours,
jumped up and fled on their mules. As they were on their way back to Jerusalem, a fake
report reached King David, that “Absalom had killed all-of your sons, and not one is left
alive!” The king jumped up, ripped off his robe, and fell prostrate on the ground. His
aides also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow.

a c g k
[h]~ will you not, [h]~ rode [h]~ mouth [h]~ according to
since I commanded d
1:2 h
[h]~ settled the word of thy
you e i servants
b
12:26 19:19
[h]~ sons of valour f j
See verse 3 See verses 37,38

37
But just then, Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, arrived and said, “No, not
all have been killed! It was only Amnon! Absalom has been plotting this ever since
Amnon raped Tamar. No, NO! Your sons aren’t all dead! It was only Amnon!” Absalom
got away.
Now the watchmen on the Jerusalem wall saw a great crowd coming towards the city
along the side road of the hill. “See!” Jonadab told the king. “There they are now! Your
sons are coming, just as I said.”
They soon arrived, weeping and sobbing, and the king and the officials wept with them.
37. But Absalom fled, and went to aTalmai, the son of bAmmi Hud, king of Geshur,
And David mourned for his son every day.
38. So, Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39. And the soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was
comforted concerning Amnon, seeing that he was dead.
Absalom fled to King Talmai of Geshur, the son of Ammi Hud and remained there for
three years. Meanwhile, David now reconciled to Amnon’s death, longed day after day
for fellowship with his son Absalom.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: JOAB’S PLAN TO BRING ABSALOM HOME
1. Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was ctoward Absalom.
2. And Joab sent to dTekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, “I
pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and
e
anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for
the dead:
3. And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So, Joab put the words
in her mouth.
When General Joab realised how much King David was longing to see Absalom, his son,
he sent for a woman of Tekoah, who had a reputation for great wisdom, and told her to
ask for an appointment with King David. Joab then told her what to say to the king.
“Pretend that you are in mourning,” Joab instructed her. “Wear mourning clothes, and
dishevel your hair, as though you have been in deep sorrow for a long time.”
4. And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she ffell on her face to the
ground, and did obeisance, and said, “gHelp, O king.”
5. And the king said unto her, “What ails thee?” And she answered, “I am indeed a
widow woman, and my husband is dead.
6. “And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and
there was none to part them, but one smote the other, and slew him.
7. “And, behold, the whole family has risen against thy handmaid, and they said,
‘Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother
that he slew; and we will destroy the heir also’: and so, they shall quench my coal
which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder hupon
the earth.”
8. And the king said unto the woman, “Go to thine house and I will give charge
concerning thee.”
9. And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, “My lord, O king, the iniquity be on
me, and on my father’s house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10. And the king said, “Whosoever says ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall
not touch you anymore.”
11. Then she said, “I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, ithat you
would not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my
son.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, jthere shall not one hair of thy son shall fall
to the earth.

a
3:3 e
Ruth 3:3 h
[h]~ upon the face does not multiply to
b f of the earth destroy.
[h]~ or. Ammihur 1 Samuel 20:41; 2 j
c Samuel 1:2 i
[h]~ that the 1 Samuel 14:45
13:39
d g
[H]~ save; 2 Kings revenger of blood
23:26
6:26

38
12. Then the woman said, “Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my
lord, the king.” And he said, “Say on.”
13. And the Woman said, “Wherefore then has thou thought such a thing against the
people of God? For the king does speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that
the king does not fetch home again his banished (son).
14. “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be
gathered up again; aneither does God respect any person: yet does he devise
means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
15. *** “Now, therefore that I have come to speak this thing unto the lord my king, it
is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, ‘I will now
speak unto the king; it maybe that the king will perform the request of his
handmaid.
16. ‘For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that
would destroy me and my son together out of bthe inheritance of God’.”
17. *** Then thy hand maid said, “The word of the lord my king shall now be
comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king, to discern good and
bad: therefore, the LORD thy God will be with thee.”
18. Then the king answered and said unto the woman, “Hide not from me, I pray thee,
the thing that I shall ask thee.” And the woman said, “Let the lord my king now
speak.”
19. And the king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all-of this?” And the woman
answered and said, “cAs my soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right
or to the left, from ought that my lord the king has spoken: For thy servant Joab
he bade me, and he put all-of these words in the mouth of thy handmaid.
20. “To fetch about this form of speech has thy servant Joab done this thing: and my
lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that
are in the earth.”
“What’s the trouble?” the king asked the woman. “I am a widow,” she replied, “and my
two sons had a fight out in the field, and since no-one was there to separate them, one
of them was killed. Now the rest of the family is demanding that I surrender my other
son to them to be executed for murdering his brother. But if I do that, I will have no-
one left and my husband’s name will be destroyed from the face of the earth.”
“Leave it to me,” the king told her. “I’ll see to it that no-one touches him.” “Oh, thank
you my lord,” she replied. “And I’ll take the responsibility, if you are criticised for helping
me like this.”
“Don’t worry about that!” the king replied. “If anyone objects, bring him to me; I can
assure you that he will never complain again!” Then she said, “Please swear to me by
God, that you won’t let anyone harm my son. I want no more bloodshed.”
“I vow by God.” He replied, “that not one hair of your son’s head shall be disturbed!”
“Please let me ask one more thing of you!” she said. “Go ahead,” he replied. “Speak!”
“Why don’t you do as much for all of the people of God, as you have promised to do for
me?” she asked. “You have convicted yourself, in making this decision, because you have
refused to bring home your own banished son. All-of us must die eventually; our lives
are like water that is poured out on the ground ~ it cannot be gathered up again. But
God will bless you with a longer life if you will find a way to bring back your son from
his exile. But I have come to plead for my son, because my life and my son’s life have
been threatened, and I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the king will listen to me, and rescue us
from those who would end our existence in Israel. Yes, the king will give us peace again
in Israel.’ I know that you are like an angel of God, and that you can discern good from
evil. May God be with you.”
“I want to know one thing,” the king replied. “Yes, my lord?” she asked. “Did Joab send
you here?” And the woman replied, “How can I deny it? Yes, Joab sent me here and he

a
[h]~ because God his life, He has also c
1 Samuel 1:26
has not taken away devised means …
b
1 Samuel 26:19

39
told me what to say. He did it in order to place the matter before you in a different light.
But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you know everything that happens!”
21. And the king said unto Joab, “Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore,
bring the young man Absalom again.”
22. And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed, and bowed himself, and athanked
the king: and Joab said, “Today thy servant knows that I have found grace in thy
sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of bhis servant.”
23. So, Joab arose, cand went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24. And the king said, “let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face.”
So, Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
So, the king sent for Joab and told him, “All right, go and bring back Absalom.” Joab fell
to the ground before the king and blessed him and said, “At last I know that you like
me! For you have granted me this request!”
Then, Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. “He may go to his
own quarters,” the king ordered, “but he must never come here to the palace; because
I refuse to see him.”
25. dBut in all Israel, there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty:
from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, there was not blemish in him.
26. And when he epolled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it;
because the hair was heavy on him, therefore, he polled it:) he weighed the hair
of his head at two hundred shekels of the king’s weight.
27. And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was
Tamar, she was a woman of fair countenance.
Now, no one in Israel was such a handsome specimen of manhood as Absalom, and no
one else received such praise for his beauty. He cut his hair only once a year and only
then because it weighed three pounds, and was too much of a load to carry around! He
had three sons and one daughter and Tamar was a very beautiful girl. [Don’t get
confused, there are actually two girls with the name Tamar in the Bible, and they both
suffer from sexual abuse.]
28. So, Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not his father’s face.
29. *** Therefore, Absalom sent for Joab, to have him sent to the king: but he would
not come to him: and when he sent again a second time, he would not come.
30. *** Therefore, he said unto his servants, “See, Joab’s field is fnear mine, and he
has barley there; go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on
fire.
31. Then Absalom arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him,
“Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?”
32. And Absalom answered Joab, “Behold I sent unto thee, saying, ‘Come hither that I
may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore have I come from Geshur? If had
been good for me to have been there still; now therefore let me see the king’s face;
and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me’.”
33. So, Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he
came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king:
and the king gkissed Absalom.
After Absalom had been in Jerusalem for two full years, and had not yet seen the king,
he sent to Joab, to ask him to intercede for him: But because of what the king had told
Joab, he did not come. So, Absalom sent for him again, but again he refused to come.
So, Absalom thought, ‘I know a way to get him to come to me’. Absalom said to his
servants, “Go and set fire to that barley field of Joab’s next to mine,” and they did as
they were commanded by Absalom. This got Joab’s attention! Then Joab came to
Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

a d e g
[h]~ blessed [h]~ And as Compare Ezekiel Genesis 33:4;
b
[h]~ thy Absalom there was 44:20 45:15; Luke 15:20
c not a beautiful man f
[h]~ near my place
See verse 32; 13:38
in all Israel to praise
greatly

40
Then Absalom replied, “Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back
from Geshur, if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me
have an interview with the king; then if he finds me guilty of murder, let him execute
me.”
So, Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then, at last, David summoned Absalom,
and he came and bowed low before the king, and David kissed him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: ABSALOM’S CONSPIRACY AT HEBRON

1. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom aprepared his chariots and horses, and
fifty men to run before him.
2. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so,
that when any man that had a controversy bcame to the king for judgement, then
Absalom called unto him, and said, “Of what city are you?” And he said, “Thy
servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”
3. And Absalom said unto him, “See, thy matters are good and right: but cthere is no
man deputed of the king to hear thee.”
4. Absalom said, “Moreover, Oh, that I were made judge in the land, that every man
that had any suit, or cause, might come unto me, and I would do him justice.”
5. And it was so, that when any man came near to him, to do him obeisance, he put
forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgement:
so, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Absalom then bought a magnificent chariot and chariot horses, and hired fifty men, as
footmen, to run ahead of him. He got up early every morning and went out to the gate
of the city, and when anyone came to bring a case to the king for trial, Absalom called
him over and expressed interest in his problem.
He would say, “I can see that you have a rightful claim in this matter; it’s unfortunate
that the king doesn’t have anyone to assist him in hearing these cases. I surely wish
that I was appointed the judge; then, anyone with a lawsuit could come to me, and I
would give him justice!”
And when anyone came to bow to him, Absalom would not let him, but shook his hand,
(or hugged him and kissed him) instead.
7. And it came to pass, after forty years [four years] that Absalom said unto the king,
“I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD in
Hebron.
[This is an incorrect translation in the KJV, because King David only reigned a total of 40
years altogether, and he has already been reigning for some time when this event took
place. Other translations state 4 years.]
8. “For thy servant dvowed a vow ewhile I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the
LORD shall bring me again into Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD’.”
9. And the king said unto him, “Go in peace.” So, he arose and went to Hebron.
After four years (not forty years), Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to
sacrifice to the LORD in fulfillment of a vow that I made to Him, while I was at Geshur
~ that if He would bring me back to Jerusalem, I would sacrifice to him.”
So, the king answered, “All right, go and fulfill your vow.” So, Absalom went to Hebron.
`It seemed like a legitimate request, with no back story, but as we will see in the
following chapters, God is putting in place the promised threat of the sword within
David’s own family.
10. But Absalom sent spies throughout all-of the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as
you hear the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron’.”

a c d
1 Kings 1:5 [h]~ Or, but none Genesis 28:20,21
b
[h]~ to come will hear thee, from e
13:38
the king downward

41
11. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were acalled: and
they went in their simplicity, and they knew not anything.
12. And Absalom sent for bAhithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city,
even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the
people increased continually with Absalom.
But while Absalom was there in Hebron, he sent spies to every tribe, in every part of
Israel, to incite rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the trumpets,” his
message read, “you will know that Absalom has been crowned in Hebron.”
He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him, as guests, but they were completely in the
dark about his real intentions. While he was offering sacrifices to the LORD, he sent for
Ahithophel, one of David’s counsellors who lived in Giloh. Ahithophel declared his support
behind Absalom, as did many others. So, the conspiracy became very strong.
13. And there came a messenger to David, saying, “cThe hearts of the men of Israel
are after Absalom.”
14. And David said unto all of his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise and
let us dflee: for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest
he overtake us suddenly, and ebring (down) evil upon us, and smite the city with
the edge of the sword.”
15. And the King’s servants said unto the king, “Behold thy servants are ready to do
whatsoever my lord the king shall fappoint.”
16. And the king went forth, and all-of the people gafter him. And the king left hten
women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17. And the king went forth, and all-of the people after him, and tarried in a place that
was afar off.
18. And all-of his servants passed on beside him; and all-of the Cherethites, and the
Pelethites, and all-of the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath,
passed on before the king.
A messenger soon arrived at Jerusalem, to tell King David the news about Absalom. “All-
of Israel, has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
“Then we must flee at once out of the city, or it will be too late. If we get out of the city
before he arrives, both us and the city of Jerusalem will be saved.”
His aides replied, “We are with you, therefore, do what you think is best.”
So, the king and all-of his household set out at once. He took everyone with him, except
ten of his young wives, to keep the palace in order.
David paused at the edge of the city, to let his troops pass him ~ to lead the way, 600
Gittites, who had come with David from Gath, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites
(David’s personal bodyguard).
19. Then the king said the iIttai, the Gittite, “Wherefore goest you also with us?
Return to thy place, and abide with the king: for you are a stranger, and also
an exile.
20. “Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you jgo up and down
with us? Seeing I go kwhither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren:
mercy and truth be with thee.”
21. And Ittai answered the king and said, “lAs the LORD lives, and as my lord the
king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death
or life, even there also will thy servant be.”
22. And David said to Ittai, “Go and mpass over.” And Ittai passed over, and all-of
his men, and the little ones with him.

a d h l
1 Samuel 16:3,5 19:9; Psalm 3 title 16:21,22 Ruth 1:16; 3:13
b e i m
See verse 31 [h]~ thrust 18:2 See verse 23
c f j
See verse 6; Judges [h]~ choose [h]~ wander in going
9:3 g
[h]~ at his feet 0k 1 Samuel 23:13

42
 23. And all-of the country wept with a loud voice, and all-of the people passed
over: the king also himself passed over the aBrook Kidron, and all-of the people
passed over, towards the way of the bwilderness.
But suddenly, the king turned to Ittai, the captain of the 600 Gittites, and said to him,
“What are you doing here? Go on back to Jerusalem with your men, to your king, for
you are guests in Israel, a foreigner in exile. It seems that only yesterday that you
arrived, and now today, should I force you to wander with us, for who knows where we
will end up. Go on back, and take your troops with you, and may the LORD be merciful
unto you, and to your men.”
But Ittai replied, “I vow by the God of Israel, and by your own life, that wherever you
go, I will go, no matter what happens ~ whether it means life or death.”
So, David replied: “All right then, come with us.” Then Ittai and his 600 men and their
families went along with David and the rest of Israel.
And there was deep sadness throughout the city, as God’s chosen king and his retinue
was forced to leave the city, and pass over the Brook Kidron, and went into the country,
towards the wilderness.
24. And lo, cZadok also, and all-of the Levites were with him, bearing the Ark of the
Covenant of God; (out of Jerusalem), and they set down the Ark of God; and
d
Abiathar went up, until all-of the people had done passing out of the city.
25. And the king said unto Zadok, “Carry back the Ark of God into the city: If I shall
find favour in the eyes of the LORD, He ewill bring me again, and show me both it,
and his habitation.
26. “But if He does say, “I have no fdelight in thee, behold, here am I, let Him do to
me, as seems good unto Him.
27. The king said also unto Zadok the priest, “Are you not a gseer? Return into the
city in peace, and hyour two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan,
the son of Abiathar.
28. “See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there comes word from
you to certify me.”
29. *** Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the Ark of God again into Jerusalem;
and they tarried there.
Abiathar and Zadok, and the Levites took the Ark of the Covenant and set it down beside
the road, until everyone had passed. Then following David’s instructions, Zadok took the
Ark back into the city once again. “If the LORD see fit,” David said, “He will bring me
back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle once again. But if he is through with me, well let
Him do what He thinks is best for Him and for His people.”
Then the king told Zadok, “Look, here is my plan. Return quietly to the city, with your
son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar’s son, Jonathan. I will stop at the ford of the Jordan River
and wait there for a message from you. Let me know what happens in Jerusalem, before
I disappear into the wilderness.”
So Zadok and Abiathar carried the Ark of God back into the city and stayed there.
30. And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, And
had his head covered, and he went barefoot; and all-of the people with him,
covered every man his head, and they went up weeping as they went up.
And David walked up the road that led to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His
head was covered, and his feet were bare, as a sign of mourning. [This is a prophetic
picture of Jesus going to Calvary; his head covered with a crown of thorns, and his bare
feet, the sign of being condemned.]
31. And one told David saying, Ahithophel, is among the conspirators with Absalom.
And David said, “I pray thee, turn thy counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

a c d f
1 Kings 2:37; 15:13: 8:17; 20:25; 1 Kings 1 Samuel 22:20; 22:20; 1 Kings 10:9
2 Kings 4,6,12 4:4 23:6,9; 2 Samuel g
1 Samuel 9:9
b
See verse 28; 16:2 20:25; 1 Kings 4:4 h
e
See verse 36; 17:17
Psalm 43:3

43
When someone told David that Ahithophel, his advisor, was backing Absalom, David
prayed, “O LORD, please make Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice.”
[We see in a later chapter that Ahithophel, who betrays David, hangs himself, just like
Judas, who betrayed Jesus to the Pharisees.]
32. And it came to pass that when David came to the top of the mountain, where he
worshipped God, behold Hushai, the Archite, came to meet him, with his coat rent,
and earth upon his head:
33. Unto whom David said, “If you pass on with me, then you shall be a burden
unto me:
34. “But if you return to the city, and say to unto Absalom, ‘I will be thy servant,
O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy
servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35. *** “And have you not there with you Zadok and Abiathur the priests?
Therefore, it shall be, that what thing so ever you shall hear out of the king’s
house, ayou shall tell it to Zadok, and Abiathar, the priests.
36. “Behold, they have there bwith them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and
Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send unto me everything that
you can hear.”
37. So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into
Jerusalem.
As they reached the spot at the top of the Mount of Olives, where the people worship
God, David found Hushai, the Archite, waiting for him, with torn clothes, and earth upon
his head.
But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden; return to Jerusalem
and tell Absalom, ‘I will counsel you, as I did your father.’ Then you can frustrate and
counter any of Ahithophel’s advice.
“Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, are there. Tell them the plans that are being made to
capture me, and they will send their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan to find me and tell me
what is going on.”
So, David’s friend, Hushai, returned to the city, (at the risk of his own life if he gets
caught,) getting there just as Absalom arrived.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: ZIBA’S FALSEHOOD: SHIMEI CURSES DAVID

Throughout these chapters we see the power struggle going on between good and evil.
The attribute of God’s kingdom as love, joy, and peace, because Jesus is to be called
the “Prince of Peace”. The Anti-Christ’s attributes are opposite to these, and are hate,
no joy, and no peace.

1. And cwhen David was a little past the top of the hill, behold dZiba the servant of
Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred
loaves of bread, and a hundred ebunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer
fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2. And the king said unto Ziba, “What meanest thou by these?” And Ziba said, “The
asses be for the king’s household to ride upon, and the bread and summer fruit for
the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be ffaint in the wilderness may
drink.
3. And the king said, “And where is thy master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king,
“Behold, he abides in Jerusalem: for he said, ‘Today shall the house of Israel restore
me the kingdom of my father’.”
4. Then said the king to Ziba, “Behold, thine are all that pertained unto
Mephibosheth.” And Ziba said, “I humbly beseech thee, that I may find grace in
thy sight, my lord, O king.”

a c e
17:15,16 15:30,32 1 Samuel 25:18
b d f
See verse 27 9:2-12 See verse 14; 17:29

44
David was just past the top of the Mount of Olives when Ziba, the manager of
Mephibosheth’s household, caught up with him. He was leading two donkeys loaded with
200 loaves of bread, 100 hundred clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of grapes, and a
barrel of wine.
“What are these for?” the king asked Ziba. And Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for your
people to ride on, and the bread and the summer fruit for the young men to eat; the
wine is to be taken with you into the wilderness for any who become faint.”
“And where is Mephibosheth?” the king asked him. “He stayed at Jerusalem,” Ziba
replied. “He said, ‘Now I’ll get to be king! Today, I will get back the kingdom of my father
Saul’.”a
“In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything he owns.” “Thank you, thank
you,” Ziba replied.
Here we see evil in action. After David has honoured his vow to Jonathan,
Mephibosheth’s father, and had taken him into his protection, and restored to him all-of
the land that his grandfather King Saul had owned, and had him eat at the king’s table,
he still wanted more. He wants the crown as well, but that was never promised to him
by God. He was operating under the spirt of the evil one.
5. And when king David came to bBahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the
family of the house of Saul, whose name was cShimei, the son of Gera: he came
forth, and cursed still as he came.
6. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all-of the
people And all-of the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7. And thus said Shimei, when he cursed, “Come out, come out, thou dbloody man,
and thou man of Belial:
8. “The Lord ehas returned upon thee all-of the blood of the house of Saul, in whose
stead thou have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hands
of Absalom, thy son: and, fbehold, thou are taken in thy mischief, because thou
are a bloody man.”
As David and his party passed Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It
was Shimei, the son of Gera, a member of Saul’s family. He threw stones at the king
and the king’s officers and all-of the mighty men who surrounded them!
“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. “The LORD is
paying you back for murdering King Saul and his family. [This statement was completely
untrue. Saul and his three sons were killed on the battlefield, and David was not even
present.] “You stole his throne, and now the LORD has given it to your son Absalom! At
last, you will receive a taste of your own medicine, you murderer!” [Again, not all is true.
David never stole Saul’s throne. God selected David to replace Saul as king, because of
Saul’s rebellion to God’s instructions.]
We see this same thing happening in our world today. LIES being promoted as
TRUTH! It is time to use the Spirit of Discernment and realise what is happening
around us! Unfortunately, it was not operating in the remainder of Saul’s
family, hate was well and truly in operation!
9. Then said Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, unto the king, “Why should this gdead dog,
curse my lord, the king? Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.”
10. And the king said, “hWhat have I to do with you, iyou sons of Zeruiah? So let him
curse, because the LORD has said unto him, ‘Curse David’. Who shall then say,
‘Wherefore has thou done so’?”
11. And David said to Abishai, and to all-of his servants, “Behold, my son, which came
forth of my bowels, seeks my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it;
let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him.

a c f h
Saul was his 19:16; 1 Kings [h]~ behold, thee in 19:22; Luke 4:34;
grandfather. 2:8,44 thy evil 8:28; John 2:4
b d g i
3:16 [h]~ man of blood 3:8; 9:8 1 Samuel 26:6
e
1 Kings 2:32

45
12. “aIt may be that the LORD will look on my afflictions, and that the LORD will requite
me good for his cursing this day.”
13. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside over
against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and bcast dust.
14. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed
themselves there.
“Why should this dead dog curse the king?” Abishai demanded. “Let me go over there
and cut off his head!”
“No!” the king said. “If the LORD has told him to curse me, who am I to say no? My own
son is trying to kill me, and this Benjaminite is merely cursing me. Let him alone, for no
doubt the LORD has told him to do it. And perhaps, the LORD will see that I am being
wronged, and will, bless me because of these curses.”
So, David and his men continued on, and Shimei kept pace with them on the nearby
hillside, cursing as he went, and throwing stones at David and tossing dust into the air.
The king and all those that were with him were weary by the time they reached Bahurim,
so they stayed there awhile and rested.
15. And cAbsalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and
Ahithophel with him.
16. And it came to pass, when Hushai, the dArchite, David’s friend, was come unto
Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, “eGod save the King, God save the King.”
17. And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this thy kindness to thy friend? fWhy wentest thou
not with thy friend?”
18. And Hushai said unto Absalom, “Nay: but whom the LORD, and this people, choose,
his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19. “And again, gwhom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son?
As I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
So, for all those people who like spy movies, or movies where a mole is planted inside
an organization, this is not something that is new. Here, we see, 14 generations before
Jesus was born; a mole being planted inside the enemies’ camp, to relay messages to
their real bosses, (in this case to King David) at the risk of his own life, if he gets caught.
Meanwhile, Absalom and his men arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.
When David’s friend Hushai, the Archite, arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom.
“Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the King!”
The words he was speaking were true, but Absalom assumed they were referring to him.
This was how he would mingle himself with the new administration of Absalom, and get
the information he needed to relay back to the “true king”.
“Is this the way to treat your friend, David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with
him?” Hushai replied, “I work for the man who is chosen by the LORD, and by Israel.
Anyway, why shouldn’t I? I helped your father, and now I will help you.”
20. Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, “Give counsel Among you, what we shall do.”
21. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, “Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he
has left to keep the house: and all-of Israel shall hear that you are abhorred of thy
father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.”
22. So, they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in
unto his father’s concubines, in the sight of all-of Israel.
23. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was “as if” a
man had inquired at the horacle of God: so was all-of the counsel of Ahithophel,
both with David and with Absalom.
Then, after his conversation with Hushai, Absalom turned to Ahithophel and said, “What
shall I do next?” And Ahithophel told him; “Go and sleep with your father’s wives, for he
has left them here to keep the house in order. Then all-of Israel will know that you have
committed this sin, and insulted you father beyond any possible point of reconciliation,

a c e g
2 Kings 19:4 15:37 [h]~ let the king 15:34
b
[h]~ dusted him with d
Joshua 16:2; 2 live; 1 Samuel 10:24 h
[h]~ word
f
dust Samuel 15:37 19:25

46
and they will all close ranks behind you ~ in fact your position in Israel will become
stronger.”
So, a tent was erected on the roof of the palace, where everyone could see it, and
Absalom went into the tent to lie with his father’s wives. Absalom did whatever
Ahithophel told him to do, just as David had done before him; for every word Ahithophel
spoke was a wise “as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.”
[God’s word is clear: “YOU shall not commit adultery!” God Almighty would never, ever
tell a person to commit sin! Ahithophel was operating under the power of the wrong
spirit, to cause Absalom to sin before the whole nation of Israel.]

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: SECRET INTELLIGENCE IS SENT TO DAVID

1. MOREOVER, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose out twelve thousand
men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2. “And I will come upon him, while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him
afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee: and I will smite the king only.
3. “And I will bring back all-of the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is
as if all returned: so, all-of the people shall be in peace.”
4. And the saying apleased Absalom well, and all-of the elders of Israel.
5. Then said Absalom, “Call now Hushai, the Archite also, and let us hear likewise
what he says.
6. And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke unto him, saying,
“Ahithophel has spoken after this manner; shall we do after his bsaying? If not;
speak thou.”
7. And Hushai said unto Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has cgiven, is not good
at this time.
8. “For”, said Hushai, “you know your father, and his men, that they are mighty men,
and they be dchafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of their whelps in the field;
and thy father is a man of war, and not will not lodge with the people.
9. “Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass,
when some of them be eoverthrown, at the first, that whosoever hears it will say,
‘There is a slaughter among the people that follows Absalom.
10. “And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly fmelt:
For all-of Israel knows that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him
are valiant men.
11. *** “Therefore, I counsel, that all-of Israel be generally gathered unto thee, gfrom
Dan even to Beersheba, has the sand that be by the seas for multitude: and ithat
you go to battle in thine own person.
12. “So shall we come upon him in some place, where he shall be found, and we will
light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and if him and all-of his men that
are with him that there shall not be left as so much as one.
13. “Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all-of Israel bring ropes to that
city, and we will draw it into the river, until there not be one small stone found
there.”
14. And Absalom and all-of the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite,
is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had jappointed kto defeat
the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon
Absalom.
“Now,” Ahithophel said, “give me 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. I will come
upon him while he is weary and discouraged, and he and his troops will be thrown into

a d g i
[h]~ was right in the [h]~ bitter of soul; 3:10 [h]~ that thy face, or
eyes of … Judges 18:25 h
1 Kings 4:20; See presence go …
b e j
[h]~ word [h]~ fallen also Genesis 22:17 [h]~ commanded
c f k
[h]~ counselled Joshua 2:11 15:34

47
a panic, and everyone will run away; and I will kill only the king, and let all those that
are with him live, and restore them to you.”
Absalom and all of the elders of Israel approved the plan, but Absalom said, “Ask Hushai
the Archite what he thinks about this plan.”
When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. “What is your
opinion?” Absalom asked him. “Should we follow Ahithophel’s plan and advice? If not,
then speak up.”
“Well,” Hushai said, “This time I think that Ahithophel has made a mistake. You know
your father and his men; they are mighty warriors, and are probably as upset as a
mother bear, that has just been robbed of its cubs. And your father is an old soldier, so
he will not be spending the night among his troops; he is probably already hidden in
some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks, and a few of your men fall, there
will be panic among your troops, and everyone will start shouting that your men are
being slaughtered. Then, even the bravest of them, though they have hearts of lions,
will be paralysed with fear; for all-of Israel knows what a mighty man your father is and
how courageous his soldiers are.
“What I suggest, is that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as
far away as Dan and Beersheba, so that you will have a huge force. And I think that you
should personally lead the troops. Then, when we find him, we can destroy his entire
army, so that not one of them is left alive, to bother you in the future. And if David has
escaped into some city, you will have the entire army of Israel at your disposal and your
command, and we can take ropes and drag the walls of the city into the nearest valley,
until every stone is torn down.
Then Absalom and all-of the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than
Ahithophel’s.” For the LORD had arranged to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which in
fact was really a better plan, so that he could bring disaster upon Absalom!
15. Then said Hushai unto Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “thus and thus did
Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus, and thus have I
counselled.
16. *** “Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Lodge not this night ain
the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up,
and all-of the people that are with him’.”
17. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by bEnrogel; for they might not be seen to come
into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.
18. Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away
quickly, and came to a man’s house cin Bahurim, which had a well in his court;
whither they went down.
19. And dthe woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread
e
ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
20. And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, “Where
is Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And fthe woman said unto them, “They be gone over
the brook of water.” And when they sought and could not find them, they returned
to Jerusalem.
21. And it came to pass that after they had departed, that they came up out of the
well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, “Arise, and pass quickly
over the water: for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you.”
22. Then David arose, and all-of the people with him, and they passed over the Jordan:
by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over the
Jordan.
Then Hushai reported the events that had taken place in the palace; what Ahithophel
had said to Absalom and what he has proposed instead.

a c e f
15:28 16:5; see 3:16 Proverbs 27:22 Compare Joshua
b
Joshua 15:7 d
Compare Joshua 2:6 2:4,5

48
“Quick!” he told them. “Find David and tell him not to camp at the ford of the River
Jordan tonight. He must cross over at once into the wilderness beyond; otherwise, he
will die, and all-of the army with him.”
Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying in Enrogel, so that they would not be seen
entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a slave girl to carry any
messages to them that were to take to King David. But a boy saw them leave Enrogel
to go to David, and he told Absalom about it.
Meanwhile they escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them in a well in his backyard.
The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well, with grain upon it, for it to dry in the
sun; so, no-one suspected they were there.
When Absalom’s men arrived, and asked her if she has seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan, she
said that they had crossed over the brook and gone. They looked for them without
success, and then returned to Jerusalem.
[Now people may say that she committed a sin, by lying about these two people, but it
was “allowed to lie”, to save life.]
Then the two men crawled out of the well, and hurried on to find King David. “Quick!”
they told him, “You have to cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel
had advised that he be captured and killed. So, David and all-of the people that were
with him, went across the Jordan during the night, and they were all on the other bank
of the river before dawn.
23. And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not afollowed, he saddled his ass,
and arose, and get him home, to his house, to bhis city, and put his house in order,
and changed himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24. Then David came to dMahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all-of
the men of Israel with him.
Meanwhile, Ahithophel, being publicly disgraced, when Absalom and the elders of Israel
refused his advice, saddled his donkey went to his hometown, set his affairs in order,
and hanged himself, so that he died and was buried beside his father.
[Here again, is a prophetic picture of what happens, when you betray your master. You
are led to go and hang yourself, when you realise the magnitude of the sin that you have
committed. This is what happened, when Judas betrayed Jesus.]
David soon arrived at Mahanaim. Meanwhile, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of
Israel and was leading the men across the Jordan River.
25. Absalom had appointed Amasa, as general of the army, replacing Joab (Amasa was
Joab’s second cousin, his father was eIthra, the Ishmaelite, and his mother was
Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, who was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah,)
26. So, Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
Absalom had appointed Amasa as general of the army, replacing Joab (who had
remained loyal to King David). Amasa was Joab’s second cousin; his father was Ithra,
an Ishmaelite, and his mother was Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, who was the sister
of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.
27. And it came to pass, when David came to Mahanaim, that Shobi, the son of Nahash
of Rabbah, of the children of Ammon, and Machir, the son of Ammiel of Lodebar,
and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28. Brought beds, and fbasons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour,
and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse.
29. And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people
that were with him, to eat: for they said, “The People is hungry, and gweary, and
thirsty, hin the wilderness.

a d e h
[h]~ Done Genesis 32:2; Jether, the Israelite; 15:23
b
15:12 Joshua 13:26; 2 1 Chronicles 2:16,17
c Samuel 2:8; 19:32; f
[h]~ Or, cups
Matthew 27:5
1 Kings 2:8; 4:14 g
16:2

49
When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi, the son of Nahash
of Rabbah, and Machir, the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai, a Gileadite of
Rogelim.
They brought him and those that were with him, mats to sleep on, cooking pots, serving
bowls, wheat and barley flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter, and cheese.
For they said, “You must be very tired and hungry, after your long march through the
wilderness.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: ISRAELITES SLAIN: ABSALOM KILLED IN EPHRAIM

1. And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands,
and captains of hundreds over them.
2. And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third
part under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah (Joab’s brother), aand a third
part under the hand of Ittai, the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, “bI will
surely go forth with you myself also.”
3. *** cBut the people answered, “thou shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they
will not dcare for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us, but now thou are
worth ten thousand of us: therefore, now it is better that thou succour us out of
the city.”
4. And the king said unto them, “What seems you best I shall do.” And the king stood
by the gate side, and all-of the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my
sake with the young man, even with Absalom.” And all-of the people heard when
the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
In the wilderness David appointed regimental colonels, responsible for 1,000 troops and
company commanders, responsible for 100 troops.
One third of the army was placed under Joab, another third under his brother Abishai,
the son of Zeruiah, and the other third under Ittai, the Gittite. The king planned to lead
out the whole army; but his leaders & the men objected strongly to this idea.
“You must not do this!” they said, “for if we have to turn and run, and half of us die, it
will make no difference to them, because they will only be looking for you. You are now
worth at least 10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here protected in the city, and
send us help if we need it.”
“Well, whatever you think is best,” the king finally replied. So, the king stood at the gate,
as all-of the troops passed by to go to war for their king.
And the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “For my sake, deal gently with young
Absalom.” And all-of the troops heard the king give them this charge.
6. So, the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood
of Ephraim.
7. Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was
there, a great slaughter that day, of Twenty Thousand men.
8. For the battle was scattered over the face of the country: and the wood edevoured
more people than the sword devoured.
So, the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, between the forces with David, and the
forces of Absalom. The troops of Absalom were beaten back by David’s forces and there
was a great slaughter, of 20,000 men, who died that day. The battle raged all across the
countryside, and more men disappeared in the forest, than were killed.
[Although 20,000 men being killed in one day of battle is enormous, it is not the most
men killed in a battle in one day. This happened in the battle between Napoleon and the
Russian forces, where 50,000 men died in one day.

a c d e
15:19 21:17 [h]~ set their heart [h]~ multiplied to
b
17:8-10 on us devour

50
Fast forward to World War II, when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima,
where an estimated 140,000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives in one day, with a
further 90,000 3 days later, when the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.]
9. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule, and the
mule went under the boughs of a great aoak, and his head caught hold of the oak,
and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was
under him went away.
10. And a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanged
in an oak.”
11. And Joab said unto the man that told him, “And, behold you saw him, and why did
you not smite him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of
silver and a bgirdle.”
12. And the man said unto Joab, Though I should creceive one thousand shekels of
silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king’s son: dfor
in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘eBeware that
none touch the young man Absalom’.
13. “Otherwise, I should have wrought falsehood against my own life: for there is no
matter hid from the king, and thou thyself would have set thyself against me.”
14. Then said Joab, “I may not tarry thus fwith thee.” And he took three darts in his
hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive, in the
g
midst of the oak.
15. And ten men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and
slew him.
16. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for
Joab held back the people.
17. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very
great heap of stones upon him: and all-of Israel fled everyone to his tent.
During the battle, Absalom came upon some of David’s men, and as he fled on his mule,
it went beneath the thick boughs of a great oak tree, and his thick head of hair caught
in the branches. His mule continued on, leaving him dangling in the air. One of David’s
men told Joab. “What? You saw him there and you did not kill him?” Joab demanded. “I
would have rewarded you handsomely and made you a commissioned officer.”
“For a million dollars, I would not do it,” the man replied. “We all heard the king say to
you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please don’t harm young Absalom’.
“And if I betrayed the king by killing his son, (and I am sure that the king would find out
who did it), you, yourself would be the first to accuse me.”
“Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then Joab took three daggers and plunged them
into Absalom’s heart, as he dangled from the oak tree. Ten of Joab’s armour bearers
surrounded Absalom and made sure that he was dead. Then Joab blew the trumpet, and
his men returned from chasing after the army of Israel. They threw Absalom’s body in
to a great deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones upon his grave. And
the army of Israel fled to their homes.
18. Now, Absalom, in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself ha pillar, which
is in ithe king’s dale: for he said, “jI have no son to keep my name in remembrance:
and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s
place.
Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no
sons to carry on my name.” He called it “Absalom’s Monument.” As it is still known today.
19. Then said kAhimaaz, the son of Zadok (the priest), “Let me now run, and bear the
king tidings, how that the LORD has avenged him of all-of his enemies.”

a d g k
Genesis 35:4 See verse 5 [h]~ heart 15:27
b e h
1 Samuel 18:4 [h]~ Beware Genesis 28:18
c
[h]~ weigh upon my whosoever you be of i
Genesis 14:17
f
hand [h]~ before thee j
Compare 14:27

51
20. And Joab said unto him, “Thou shall not abear tidings this day, but thou shall bear
tiding another day: but this day thou shall bear no tidings, because the king’s son
is dead.”
21. Then said Joab to Cushi, “GO tell the king what thou has seen. And Cushi bowed
himself to Joab and ran.
22. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, “But bhowsoever, let me, I
pray thee, also run after Cushi.” And Joab said, “Wherefore wilt thou run, my son,
seeing that thou have no tidings cready?”
23. “But howsoever,” said he, “Let me run.” And he (Joab) said unto him, “Run.” Then
Ahimaaz run by way of dthe plain, and overran Cushi.”
24. And David sat between the two gates: and ethe watchman went up to the roof over
the gate under the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, a man
running alone.
25. And the watchman cried and told the king, and the king said, “If he is alone, there
is tidings in his mouth.” And he came apace and drew near.
26. And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the
porter, and said, “Behold, man running alone.” And the king said, “He also brings
tidings.”
27. And the watchman said, “fMe thinks that the running of the foremost is glike the
running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “hHe is a good man, and
comes with good tidings.”
28. And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, “All is well,” and he fell down to the
earth upon his face before the king, and said, “Blessed be the LORD thy God, which
has idelivered up the men that lifted up thy hand against my lord the king.”
29. And the king said, “jIs the young man Absalom safe?” And Ahimaaz answered,
“When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but
I knew not what it was.”
30. And the king said unto him, “Turn aside and stand there,” And he stood aside, and
stood still.
31. And behold Cushi came: and Cushi said, “kTidings, my lord, the king: for the LORD
has avenged thee this day, of all-of them that rose up against thee.”
32. And the king said unto Cushi, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And Cushi
answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and that rise against thee, to thee
hurt, be as that young man is.”
Then Ahimaaz, son of Zadok the priest, said to Joab, “Let me go to the King David and
tell him the good news that the LORD has saved him from his enemy Absalom.”
“No,” Joab told him, “It would not be good news to tell the king that his son is dead. You
can be my messenger some other time.”
Then Joab said to the man from Cush, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The man
bowed and ran off.
“But Ahimaaz pleaded with Joab, “Please let me go too.” “No, we don’t need you now,
my boy, there is no further news to say.” “Yes, but let me go anyway,” he begged. And
Joab finally said, “All right, go ahead.” Then Ahimaaz was off like a rocket: He took a
short cut across the plain, and arrived at the palace gate ahead of the man from Cush.
King David was sitting at the gate of the city. When the watchman climbed the stairs to
his post at the top of the wall, he saw a lone man running towards them. He shouted
the news down to David and the king replied, “If he is alone, he had news.”
As the messenger came closer, the watchman saw another man running towards them.
He shouted down, “Here comes another runner.” And the king replied, “He will have more
news.” “The first man looks like Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok,” the watchman said.
“He is a good man, and he comes with good news,” the king replied.

a d g i
[h]~ thou shall not Deuteronomy 34:3 Compare 2 Kings [h]~ shut up
be a bearer of tidings e
13:31; 2 Kings 9:17 9:20 j
[h]~ is the peace?
b h
[h]~ be what may f
[h]~ I see the running 1 Kin k
[h]~ tidings is
c
[h]~ Convenient gs 1:42 brought

52
Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “ALL IS WELL.” He bowed low with his face to the
ground and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God who has destroyed the rebels, who
dared to stand against you.”
“What of young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he alright?” “When Joab told me to
come there was a lot of shouting: but I didn’t know what was happening.” Ahimaaz
answered. [Ahimaaz was apparently afraid to tell the king what actually had happened.]
“Wait here”, the king told him. So, Ahimaaz stepped aside.
Then the man from Cush arrived, and said, “I have good news for my lord, the king.
Today, Jehovah has delivered you from all-of those who rebelled against you.”
“What about young Absalom, Is he alright?” the king demanded.
And the man replied, “May all-of your enemies be as that young man is,”
33. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and
wept: and as he went thus, he said, “aO my son Absalom, my son. My son, Absalom!
Would God have I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Then the king broke into tears, and went up to his room over the gate, crying as he
went. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom. If only I could have died for you!
O Absalom, my son, my son.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN: JOAB CAUSES DAVID TO CEASE MOURNING.

1. And it was told Joab, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.”
2. And the bvictory that day was turned into mourning unto all-of the people: for the
people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
3. And the people got them by stealth cinto the city, as people being ashamed steal
away, when they flee in battle.
4. But the king dcovered his face and the king cried with a loud voice “O my son
Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5. And Joab came into the house of the king and said, “You have shamed this day the
faces of all-of thy servants, which this day have saved your life, and the lives of
and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the
lives of your concubines;
6. “In that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared this
day, that you regard neither princes, nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if
Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
7. *** “Now, therefore arise, go forth, and speak ecomfortably unto thy servants; for
I swear by the LORD, if you go not forth, there will not one tarry with you this
night: and that will be worse unto thee, than all-of the evil that befell thee from
thy youth until now.”
8. Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they unto all-of the people saying,
“Behold, the king does sit in the gate. And all-of the people came before the king:
for Israel had fled, every man to his tent.
Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. As the
people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s great victory was
turned into a day of deep sadness. The entire army crept back into the city, as though
they were ashamed and had been beaten in battle.
The king covered his face with his hands and kept weeping, “O my son Absalom, O
Absalom, my son, my son!”
Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “The army and all-of your servants,
risked their lives and saved you today. Not only you, but your sons and your daughters,
your wives, and your concubines, and yet you act like this ~ making us feel Ashamed
as if we have done something wrong. By your actions you seem to show that you love

a c e
19:4 See verse 32; 18:4, [h]~ speak to the
b
[h]~ salvation, or, 24 heart of thy servants
d
deliverance 15:30

53
those who hate you, and hate those that love you. Apparently, we don’t mean anything
to you. If Absalom had lived, and all-of us had died, you would be happy.
Now go out there and congratulate the troops, for I swear by Jehovah, that if you don’t,
not a single one of them will remain here during the night: then you will be worse off
than you have ever been in your entire life.”
[This speech is an extraordinary thing for a general to say to his king. He was telling the
king to wake up, or otherwise there would be a total rebellion of the whole army against
him. They would leave in disgust at his behaviour. Joab was actually telling the king that
God may have chosen him to rule over Israel, but if he did not act responsibly now, the
nation of Israel would reject him as king. He was also leaving himself open for
punishment, as he knew that sooner or later, the king would discover that it was Joab
who murdered Absalom, in direct rebellion against his specific orders, not to harm his
son.]
So, the king arose, and went out a sat in the city gates, and the news spread throughout
the city that he was there, and everyone went to him.
9. And all-of the people were at strife throughout all-of the tribes of Israel, saying,
“The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the
hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land for Absalom.
10. “And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now why speak thee
not a word about bring the king back?”
Meanwhile, there was much discussion and argument going on right across the nation.
“Why aren’t we talking about bringing the king back?” Was the great topic everywhere.
“For he saved us from our enemies, the Philistines, and Absalom, whom we made our
king instead, chased him out of the country; but now Absalom is dead. Let’s ask David
to return and be our king again.”
11. And king David sent to aZadok and Abiathur, the priests, saying, “Speak unto the
elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house?
Seeing the speech of all-of Israel is come to the king, even to his house?
12. “You are my brethren, you are bmy bones and my flesh: wherefore then are you
the last to bring back the king?
13. “And say you cto Amasa, ‘Are you not of my bone and of my flesh?’ God do so to
me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the
room of Joab.”
14. And he bowed the heart of all-of the men of Judah, deven as the heart of one man,
so that they sent this word unto the king. “Return thou, and all-of thy servants.”
15. So, the king returned and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to meet the
king, to conduct him over Jordan.
Then King David sent the priests, Zadok and Abiathur to speak to the elders of Judah,
saying, “Why are you the last ones to re-instate the king? For all-of Israel are ready,
but only you are holding out. Yet you are my own brothers, my own tribe, and my own
flesh and blood!”
And he told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my nephew, my God strike me dead if I
don’t appoint you Commander-in-Chief of my army, in place of Joab.” Then Amasa
convinced all-of the leaders of Judah, and they responded as one man. They sent word
to the KING, “Return to us and bring back all those that are with you.”
16. And eShimei, the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of fBahurim, hastened and
came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
17. And there were one thousand men of Benjamin with him, and gZiba, the servant of
the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons, and his twenty servants, with him: and
they went over Jordan before the king.

a
15:24-29 d
Judges 20:1 stones at him as he g
9:2,10; 16:1-4; Ziba
b e was fleeing from the lied before the king.
5:1; See Genesis 16:5; 1 Kings 2:8:
forces of Absalom.
29:14 Shimei, cursed the f
c king and threw 3:16
17:25

54
18. And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do
a
what he thought good. And Shimei, the son of Gera, fell down before the king, as
he was come over the Jordan.
19. And said unto the king, “Let not my lord impute my iniquity unto me, neither do
thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my king went
out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart.
20. *** “For thy servant does know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come,
this first day of all-of the house of Joseph to go down to meet the lord the king.”
21. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said: “Shall not Shimei be put to
death for this, because he bcursed the LORD’s anointed?”
22. And David said, “cWhat have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should
this day, be adversaries unto me? Shall any man be put to death this day in Israel?
For do not I know that I am this day king over Israel.”
23. *** Therefore, dthe king said unto Shimei, “Thou shall not die,” And the king swear
unto him.
Then Shimei, the son of Gera, the Benjamite, the man from Bahurim (who had cursed
the king and thrown stones at him, when he was fleeing for Absalom), hurried across
with the men of Judah, to welcome King David. One thousand men of Benjamin were
with him, including Ziba, the servant of Saul (who had previously lied about
Mephibosheth, his master,) and Ziba’s fifteen sons, and twenty servants; they rushed
down to the Jordan River to arrive ahead of the king. They all worked hard, ferrying the
king’s household and troops across, and helped them in every way that they could.
As the king was crossing, Shimei fell down before him, and pleaded, “My lord the king,
please forgive me and forget the terrible thing that I said and did when you left
Jerusalem; For I know very well how much I have sinned. That is why I have come here
today, the very first person in all-of the tribes of Joseph, to greet you.”
Abishai asked, “Shall not Shimei die, for he cursed and threw stones at the LORD’s
chosen king?”
“Don’t talk to me like that!” David exclaimed. “This is not a day for execution, but a day
for celebration! I am once more king of Israel!”
Then turning to Shimei, he vowed, “Your life is spared.” [Here we see a great example
of God’s mercy over-ride the judgement of God, operating in the life of King David. Yes,
Shimei should have been put to death for cursing God’s anointed ~ but God’s mercy
allowed David to pardon him, on this special day, celebrating his return as king of Israel.]
24. And eMephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither
dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, now washed his clothes, from the day the
king departed, until the day he came again in peace.
25. And it came to pass, that when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the
king said unto him, “fWherefore went not you with me, Mephibosheth?”
26. And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said,
‘I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy
servant is lame’.
27. *** “And he has slandered thy servant, unto my lord, the king; but my lord the
king is as an angel of God; do therefore what is good in thine eyes.”
28. *** “For all-of my father’s house were but gdead men before my lord, the king:
h
yet you did set thy servant among them that did eat at your own table. What right
therefore, have I yet to cry anymore unto the king.”
29. And the king said unto him, “Why speak anymore of thy matters” I have said, ‘you
and Ziba divide the land’.”
30. And Mephibosheth said unto the king, “Yes, let him take all, forasmuch as the lord
the king is come again in peace into his own home.”

a c e h
[h]~ to do good in 16:10; 1 Samuel 26:6 9: 3,6 9:7,10, 13
his eyes d
Compare 1 Kings 2: f
16:17
b
16:7; Exodus 22:28 8, 9 ,37, 46 g
[h]~ me of death

55
Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had
not washed his feet, or his clothes, nor trimmed his beard, since the day that the king
left Jerusalem.
“Why didn’t you come with me Mephibosheth?” the king asked. And he replied, “My lord
O king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle me a donkey, so that I can go
with the king,’ for as you know that I am lame. But Ziba has slandered me by saying
that I refused to come. But I know that you are as an angel of God, so do what you
think is best. I and all-of my relatives could only expect only death from you, but instead
you have honoured me among all-of those that eat at your own table! So how can I
complain?”
“All right,” David replied. “My decision is that you and Ziba will divide the land equally
between you.” “Give him all-of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you
back home in peace, once again!”
31. And aBarzillai the Gileadite came down from bRogelim, and went over Jordan with
the king, to conduct him of the Jordan.
32. Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and bhe had provided
the king sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
33. And the king said unto Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will feed you with me
in Jerusalem.”
34. And Barzillai said unto the king, “cHow long have I to live, that I should go up with
the king unto Jerusalem?”
35. “I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? Can
thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of
singing men and singing women? Wherefore then should thy servant be yet a
burden unto my lord, the king?
36. “Thy servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king: and why should the
king recompense it me with such a reward?
37. “Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in my own city, and
be buried beside the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold, thy servant
Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king: and do to him what shall seem
good unto thee.”
38. And the king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that
which shall seem good unto thee; and whatsoever that you shall require of me,
that will I do for thee.”
39. And all-of the people went over Jordan. And when the king came over, the king
kissed Barzillai, and blessed him: and he returned unto his own place.
40. Then the king went on to Gilgal, and dChimham went on with him; and all-of the
people of Judah conducted the king, and also half of the people of Israel.
Barzillai, who had fed the army during their exile in Mahanaim, arrived from Rogelim, to
conduct the king across the river. He was about 80 years old, and very wealthy.
“Come across with me and live in Jerusalem,” the king said to Barzillai. “I will take care
of you there.”
“No” he replied, “I am too old for that. I am 80 years old today, and life has lost its
excitement. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and entertainment is not much fun; I
would only be a burden to my lord, the king. Just to go across the river with you, is all
the honour that I need! Then please let me return to die in my own city, where my father
and mother are buried. But here is Chimham. (According to Josephus. Chimham was
Barzillai’s son.) Let him go with you and receive whatever good things that you want to
give him.”
“Good,” the king agreed. “Chimham shall go with me, and I will do for him whatever I
would have done for you.”

a c d
1 Kings 2:7 [h]~ how man days [h]~ also called
b
17:27 are the years of my Chimhan
life?

56
So, all-of the people crossed the River Jordan with the king: and after David had kissed
and blessed Barzillai, he returned home.
The king then went on to Gilgal, taking Chimham with him. And most of Judah and half
of Israel were there to greet him.
41. And behold, all-of the men of Israel came to the king and said unto the king, “Why
have our brethren, the men of Judah stolen thee away, and ahave brought the king,
and his household, and all-of David’s men with him, over the Jordan?”
42. And all-of the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is bnear
of kin to us: wherefore then be you angry for this matter? Have we eaten at all-of
the king’s cost? Or has he given us any gift?”
43. And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten parts in
the king, and we have also more right in David than you: Why then did you cdespise
us: that our advice should not be first hand in bringing back our king? And the
words of dthe men of Judah were fiercer, than the words of the men of Israel.
But them men of Israel complained to the king, because only men of Judah had ferried
him and his household across the Jordan.
“Why not? The men of Judah replied. “The king is one the tribe of Judah. Why should
this make you angry? We have charged him nothing; he has not fed us nor given us
gifts!”
“But there are 10 tribes of Israel,” the others replied, “so we have 10 times as much
right in the king as you do; why didn’t you invite the rest of us? And remember, we were
the first to speak of bringing him back, to be our king again.”
The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Judah were very rough in their
replies.

CHAPTER TWENTY: JOAB SLAYS AMASA; THE WISE WOMAN OF ABEL

In this chapter we see the results of envy and pride, which was brewing at the end of
chapter 19. All because the tribe of Judah did not invite people from the other 10 tribes
of Israel, to come and help bring King David and his household back, across the River
Jordan and welcome him again into the land of Israel, to be their king.
God Almighty prophesied that David would have much more strife from within his family
and Israel, because of his sin, in murdering Uriah.
1. And there happened to be there ea man of fBelial, whose name was Sheba, the son
of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, “gWe have no part in
David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O
Israel.”
2. So, every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba, the son of
Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
Then a man, filled with the opposite Spirit, (a man of the devil), whose name was Sheba,
a Benjaminite, blew a trumpet and yelled, “We want nothing to do with David, nor his
promised inheritance, of an eternal kingdom. Come on you men of Israel, let’s get out
of here. He is not our king.” With this one simple statement, the men of the 10 tribes of
Israel, turned away from God and his promises for them.
So, all except the tribes of Judah and Benjamin turned around and deserted David and
followed Sheba! But the men of Judah stayed with their king, accompanying him from
the Jordan River up to Jerusalem.
3. And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women, his
h
concubines, whom he had left to keep the house (who had been molested by
Absalom) and put them in ward, and fed them, but not went in unto them. So, they
were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

a d e g
See verse 15 Compare Judges 8:1 Deuteronomy 13:13 19:43
b
See verse 12 & 12:1; Isaiah 9:21 f
[h]~ a man with the h
15:16; 16:21,22
c & 11:13 spirit of Satan
[h]~ set us at light

57
When King David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, the king instructed that his ten
wives he had left to keep the house in order should be placed in seclusion. Because they
had been defiled by his son Absalom, they were now to be treated as widows. They
would be fed and their needs met, and they would stay in seclusion until their deaths.
4. Then said the king to aAmasa, “Assemble me the men of Judah in three days, and
you be here present, (with them).
5. So, Amasa went to bassemble the men of Judah: but he took longer than the set
time which he had appointed him.
6. And David said to Abishai, “Now shall Sheba, the son of Bichri, do us more harm
than did Absalom: “Take you the lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get
him fenced cities, and cescape us.
7. And there went out after him, Joab’s men, and the dCherethites, and the Pelethites,
and all-of the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba,
the son of Bichri.
8. When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them.
And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle,
with a sword fastened upon his loins, in a sheath thereof; and as he went forth it
fell out.
9. And Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by
the beard with his right hand to ekiss him.
10. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s (left) hand: so, he smote
him therewith fin the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck
him not again; and he died. So, Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba,
the son of Bichri.
11. And one of Joab’s men stood by him (Amasa’s body), and said, “He that favours
Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.”
12. And Amasa wallowed in blood, in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw
that all-of the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into a field,
and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood
still.
13. When he was removed, out of the highway, all-of the people went on after Joab,
to pursue after Sheba, the son of Bichri.
King David fulfilled his previous promise to elevate Amasa as Commander-in-Chief, of
all-of Israel’s forces, to replace Joab.
Then the king instructed Amasa to mobilize the army of Judah within three days and
report back to King David at that time. So, Amasa went out to notify the troops, but it
took him longer than the three days he had been given by the king.
Then King David said to Abishai, “That fellow Sheba, is going to hurt us more than
Absalom did. Quickly take my bodyguard and chase after them, before he gets into a
fortified city, where we can’t reach him.”
So, Abishai and Joab set out after Sheba, with an elite guard from Joab’s army, and
David’s personal bodyguard (the Cherethites, and the Pelethites).
As they arrived at the great stone at Gibeon, they came face to face with Amasa. Joab
was wearing his uniform with a dagger strapped to his side. As he stepped forward to
greet Amasa, he stealthily slipped the dagger from its sheath. “I’m glad to see you, my
brother,” Joab said, and took him by the beard with his right hand, as though to kiss
him. Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in Joab’s left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the
stomach with it, so that all-of his guts gushed out onto the ground.
He did not need to strike him again, and he died there. Joab and his brother Abishai left
him lying there and they continued on their journey after Sheba.
One of Joab’s young officers shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for King David, come
and follow Joab.” But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, ad when Joab’s

a c e
19:13 [h]~ deliver himself Matthew 26:49; Luke
b
[h]~ to call, to enlist from our eyes 22:47
d f
See verse 23; 15:18 2:23

58
young officer saw that a crowd was standing around staring at him, they dragged him
off the road and into a field and threw a garment over his body.
With the body now out of the way, everyone followed on after Joab to capture Sheba.
14. And he (Sheba) went thought all of the tribes of Israel unto aAbel and to Beth-
b
Maachah, and all-of the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also
after him.
15. And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-Maachah, and they cast up a bank
against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all-of the people that were with
Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
Meanwhile, Sheba had travelled across all-of Israel to mobilize his own clan of Bichri at
the city of Abel in Beth-Maachah. When Joab’s forces arrived, they besieged Abel, and
built a mound to the top of the city wall and began battering it down.
16. Then cried a wise woman out of the city, “Hear, Hear: say, I pray you, Unto Joab,
Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.”
17. And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he
answered, “I am he.” Then she said unto him, “Hear the words of thine handmaid.”
And he answered, “I do hear.”
18. Then she spoke, saying, “They were wont to speak in old time, saying, c’They shall
surely ask counsel at Abel: and so, they ended the matter.
19. “I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel; You seek to destroy a
city and a mother in Israel: why will you dswallow up ethe inheritance of the LORD?”
20. And Joab answered and said, “Far be it from me, that I should dswallow up and
destroy.
21. “The matter is not so; but a man of Mount Ephraim, Sheba, the son of Bichri, fby
name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only,
and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said unto Joab, “Behold his head
shall be thrown over the wall.”
22. Then the woman went into all-of the people gin her wisdom. And they cut off the
head of Sheba, the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet,
and they hretired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to
Jerusalem unto the king.
But a wise woman in the city, cried out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here,
so that I can talk to you.” [Notice that Joab did not ridicule this woman for speaking to
him in this manner, for he perceived that she was a wise woman, probably a prophetess.]
As he approached her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” And he replied, “I am.”
So, she told him, “There used to be an old saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument,
ask advice at Abel,’ For we always give wise counsel. You are destroying and ancient,
peace-loving city, loyal to Israel. Should you destroy what is the LORD’s?”
And Joab replied to her, “That isn’t it al all. All I want is a man named Sheba, from the
hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you will deliver him to
me, we will leave the city in peace.”
“All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.”
Then the woman went to the people of the city with her wise advice, and they showed
her respect, and listened to her. And they went and captured Sheba, and cut off his
head, and threw it out to Joab.
Joan blew the trumpet, and called his troops back from the attack, and they returned to
the king at Jerusalem.
23. Now iJoab was over all-of the host of Israel: and jBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was
over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

a
2 Kings 15:29; 2 ginning, saying, e
1 Samuel 26:19 i
See verse 26; 8:16-
Chronicles 16:4 surely, they will ask f 18
[h]~ by his name
b of Abel, and so make j
10:6 gg
See verse 16; 23:20-23
c
and end.
[h]~ They plainly d Ecclesiastes 9:15
17:16
spoke in the be- h
[h]~ were scattered

59
24. And aAdoram was over the tribute: and bJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the
recorder:
25. And Sheva was the scribe; and cZadok and Abiathar were the priests:
26. And Ira also the Jairite, was a chief ruler about David.
Joab was re-instated as Commander-in-Chief of the army, and Benaiah was in charge of
the King’s bodyguard. Adoram was in charge of the forced labour battalions, and
Jehoshaphat, was the historian, who kept all-of the records up to date. Sheva was the
king’s secretary, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests. Ira, the Jairite, was David’s
personal chaplain.

Chapters 21 to 24 are appendices added at the end of David’s history and

comprise the following:
1) The Famine and the victories over the Philistines;
2) Burial of the Bones of Saul & Jonathan;
3) The Great exploits against the Philistines;
4) David’s Song of Thanksgiving;
5) David’s last words;
6) A Catalogue of David’s mighty men;
7) The Census & the plague;
a) David’s punishment;
b) The Threshing floor of Arunah;

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: 3 YEARS OF FAMINE, SAUL’S SONS HANGED

1. Then there was a famine in the land; year after year; And David dinquired of the
LORD. And the LORD answered., “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because
e
he slew the Gibeonites.”
2. And the King called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were
not of the children of Israel, but fof the remnant of the Amorites; and the children
of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the
children of Israel and Judah.)
3. Wherefore, David said unto the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And wherewith
shall I make the atonement, that you may bless gthe inheritance of the LORD?”
4. And the Gibeonites said unto him, “hWe will have no silver or gold of Saul, not of
his house; neither for us will you kill any man in Israel.” And he said, “What you
shall say, that will I do for you.”
5. And they answered the king, “The man that consumed us, and that idevised against
us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts in Israel,
6. Let seven men of his sons (descendants) be delivered to us, and we will hang them
up unto the LORD jin Gibeah of Saul, kwhom the LORD did choose.” And the king
said, “I will give them.”
7. But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because
of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan, the son
of Saul.

a
1 Kings 4:6 f
Joshua 9:3-19 Saul, or his house, k
[h]~ chosen of the
b g neither pertains it to LORD
8:16; 1 Kings 4:3 20:19; 1 Samuel
us to kill …
c
15:24 26:19 i
h [h]~ cut us off
d
[h]~ sought the face [h]~ it is neither j
e silver nor gold that Joshua 18:28
Compare 1 Samuel
we have t do with
22:18,19

60
8. But the king took to two sons of aRizpah, the daughter Aiah (Saul’s wife), whom
she bare unto Saul, Armoni, and Mephibosheth (the second person with this name),
and the five sons of Merab, (whom bMichal raised as her own) whom she brought
up for Adriel, the son of Barzillai, the Meholathite:
9. And He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in
the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in
the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of the barley harvest.
After the wars in Chapter 20, there was a famine during King David’s reign that lasted
for 3 consecutive years. David perceived that this was because of sin, so he prayed to
the LORD for revelation, and the LORD, revealed to him the cause. The LORD said to
David, “The famine is because of the sin of Saul, and his family, for they murdered the
Gibeonites, and I did not command him to do that!”
So, King David summoned the Gibeonites. They were not part of Israel, but were the
remnant of the Amorite nation. Israel had sworn an oath not to kill them, but Saul, in
his nationalistic zeal, had broken the oath of Israel, made before God, and had tried to
wipe them out. THIS DID NOT BRING GLORY AND HONOUR, TO THE GOD OF
ISRAEL!
So, David asked them, “What can I do for you, to rid our nation of this sin, and to induce
you to ask God to bless us, once again?”
“Well, money won’t do it,” the Gibeonites replied, “And we don’t want to see Israelites
executed in revenge.”
“What can I do then?” David asked. “Just tell me, and I will do it for you.”
“Well then,” they replied, “Give us Saul’s seven sonsc, the descendants of the man who
did his best to destroy us. We will hang them before the LORD in Gibeon, the city of King
Saul.”
“All right,” the king replied, “I will do it.”
Can you imagine the reaction of Mephibosheth (Saul’s grandson, who sits at the king’s
table) when he hears this news that David has agreed to give up the 7 male descendants
of King Saul? Is he now going to be handed over to be hanged?
But King David spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, because of the oath made between
David and Jonathan, before God. [David respected the oath he made before God ~ but
Saul did not!]
He gave him the 2 sons of Rizpah ~ Armoni and Mephibosheth (another descendant of
King Saul). These were the grandsons of Saul by his wife Aiah. He also gave them the
adopted unnamed sons of Michal, who were in fact the sons of her sister, Merab, who
was the wife of Adriel, who died in childbirth.
The men of Gibeon impaled them on the mountain before the LORD. So, all-of them died
together at the beginning of the barley harvest.

a b c
3:7 [h]~ Michal’s sister Saul did not have 7
(MERAB) sons, but he had 8
male descendants.

61
10. And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the
rock, afrom the beginning of the harvest until water dropped upon them from the
heavens, and suffered neither birds of the air to rest upon them by day, nor the
beasts of the field by night.
11. And it was told David what Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul had
done.
Then Rizpah, the mother of two of the men, who were impaled and died, spread
sackcloth upon the rock and stayed there on vigil, through the complete harvest season,
to prevent the vultures from ripping the flesh from their bodies during the daytime, and
from the wild animals eating them at night.
12. And David went and took of Saul and of Jonathan his son, from bthe men of Jabesh-
Gilead, cwhich had stolen them from the streets of dBethshan, where then
Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
13. And he brought from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son;
and they gathered the bones of the men that were hanged.
14. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin,
in eZelah, in the sepulchre of Kish, his father; and they performed all that the king
commanded. And after that fGod was intreated for the land.
When David learned what she had done, he arranged for the men’s bones to be buried
in the sepulchre of Kish, Saul’s father. At the same time, he sent a request to the men of
Jabesh-Gilead, asking them to bring him the bones of Saul and Jonathan. They had
stolen their bodies from the public square at Bethshan, where the Philistines had impaled
them, after they had died in battle on Mount Gilboa. [Interestingly, David did not request
the bones of the other 2 sons (Abinadab & Melchishua), the 2 other sons of Saul, who
also died in the same battle on Mount Gilboa, on the same day.]
So, their bones, were brought to him. Then, at last, God answered the prayers of Israel,
and ended the famine.
15. Moreover, the Philistines had yet war again with Israel: and David went down and
his servants with him and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
16. And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of gthe giant, the weight of whose hspear
weighed three hundred shekels of brass, he being girded with a new sword, thought
to have slain David.
17. But iAbishai, the son of Zeruiah, succoured, and smote the Philistine, and killed
him. Then the men of David swear unto him, saying, “jThou shall go no more out
with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.”
18. kAnd it came to pass after this (incident) that there was another battle with the
Philistines at Gob: then lSibbechai, the Hushathite, slew mSaph, which was (also)
of the sons of the giant (Rapha).
19. And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan, the son of
n
Jareoregim, a Bethlehemite slew the brother of Goliath, the Gittite, othe staff of
whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20. And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on
every hand six fingers and on every foot, six toes, twenty-four in number; and was
also born to the giant (Rapha).
21. And when he pdefied Israel, then Jonathan, the son of qShimei, the brother of David,
slew him.
22. These four were born to (Rapha) the giant in Gath, who fell by the hand of David
and by the hand of his servants.

a f j o
Deuteronomy 21:23 Genesis 25:21; 2 18:3 1 Samuel 17:7; 2
b
Joshua 24:11 Samuel 24:25 k
See verse 22; 1 Samuel 23:7
g p
c
Judges 21:8; 1 [h]~ Rapha, the giant Chronicles 20:4-8 [h]~ reproached; 1
Samuel 31:10-13 h
[h]~ the staff, or the l
1 Chronicles 27:11 Samuel 17: 10, 25,
d head; Compare 1 m 26, 36
Joshua 17:11 [h]~ Or, Sippai q
e Samuel 17:7 n 1 Samuel 16:9; Also
Joshua 18:28 [h]~ Or, Jair
i
1 Samuel 26:6 called Shammah

62
Once, when the Philistines were at war with Israel, and David as his men were in the
thick of the battle, David became weak and exhausted. Ishbibenob, a giant, whose spear
tip weighed more than 12 pounds, and who was sporting a new suit of armour, closed
in on David, and was about to kill him. But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah came to his rescue
and killed the Philistine. After that close call, David’s men declared, “You are not going
out to battle again! Why should we risk snuffing out the light of Israel?”
Later, during the war with the Philistines at Gob; Sibbechai, the Hushathite, killed Saph,
another giant. At still another time, at the same place, Elhanan killed the brother of
Goliath the Gittite, whose spear handle was as huge as a weaver’s beam! And once when
the Philistines and the Israelis were fighting at Gath, a giant with 6 fingers on each hand,
and 6 toes on each foot defied Israel, and David’s nephew Jonathan, the son of David’s
brother Shimei, killed him. These four were from the tribe of giants in Gath, and were
killed by David’s troops.
[So now you know why David picked up 5 stones in the brook, before he went out to
attack Goliath, because he knew Goliath had 4 brothers, and he was ready for them as
well.]

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: A PSALM OF THANKSGIVING

1. And David spoke aunto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD
had delivered him out of the hands of his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2. b
And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3. The God cof my rock; din Him will I trust: He is my eshield, and the fhorn of my
salvation, my ghigh tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; thou saves me from
violence.
4. I will call on the LORD, hwho is worthy to be praised: so, shall I be saved from mine
enemies.
5. When the iwaves of death compass me, the floods of jungodly men made me afraid;
6. The ksorrows of hell compass me about; the snares of death prevented me;
7. In my distress, I called upon the LORD, and cried oto my God: and He did hear my
voice, out of His Temple, and my cry ldid enter unto His ears.
8. Then mthe earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook,
because he was wrath.
9. There went up a smoke nout of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured:
coals were kindled by it.
10. He obowed the heavens also, and came down; and pdarkness was under His feet.
11. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; and He was seen qupon the wings of the
wind.
12. And He made darkness rpavilions round about Him, sdark waters, and thick clouds
of the skies.
13. Through the brightness before Him were coals of fire kindled.
14. The LORD tthundered from heaven, and the MOST High uttered His voice.
15. And He sent out uarrows and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
16. And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were
discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17. v
He sent from above, He took me; wHe drew me out of xmany waters;
18. He delivered me from my strong enemy; and from them that hated me; for they
were too strong for me.

a f m s
Exodus 15:1; Judges Luke 1:69 Judges 5:4 [h]~ binding of
5:1; Psalm 18 title g
Psalm 9:9; 46:7,11 n
[h]~ by waters
b t
See verse 51; h
Psalm 48:1 o
Psalm 144:5; Isaiah Psalm 29:3
Psalm 18:2-50 i 64:1 u
Psalm 7:13
c
[h]~ pangs of death
Deuteronomy 32:4 j p
Exodus 20:21 v
Psalm 144
d
[h]~ Belial (Satanic)
Hebrews 2:13 k q
Psalm 104:3 w
Exodus 2:10
e
[h]~ Or, cords
Genesis 15:1 l r
Job 36:29 x
[h]~ great
Psalm 18:6

63
19. They aprevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
20. He brought me forth also binto a large place: He delivered me, because He
c
delighted in me.
21. dThe LORD rewarded me, according to my righteousness: according to the
e
cleanness of my hands, has He recompensed me.
22. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my
God.
23. For all-of His fjudgements were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart
from them.
24. I was also upright gbefore Him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
25. *** Therefore, the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness:
according to my cleanness hin His eye sight.
26. With ithe merciful, thou will show thyself, and with the upright man, thou will show
thyself upright.
27. With the pure, thou will show thyself pure; and with the froward you will jshow
thyself unsavoury.
28. And the kafflicted people you will save: but your eyes are upon the haughty, that
you may bring them down.
29. For you are my llamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
30. For by thee, I have mrun through as troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
31. As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the LORD is ntried: He is oa buckler to
all-of those that trust in Him.
32. For pwho is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
33. God is my strength and power: and He qmakes my way perfect.
34. He rmakes my feet slike hinds’ feet: and sets me tupon my high places.
35. uHe teaches my hands vto war; so that a bow of steel is broken in my arms.
36. You have also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness has wmade
me great.
37. You have enlarged xmy steps under me; so that my yfeet did not slip.
38. I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them: and turned not again until I had
consumed them.
39. And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: Yes,
they are fallen under my feet.
40. For you have zgirded me with strength for battle: them that rose up against me
have you aasubdued under me.
41. You have also given me the bbnecks of my enemies, that I might destroy them that
hate me.
42. ccThey looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but He answered
them not.
43. Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them ddas the
mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
44. You have also delivered me eefrom the strivings of my people, You have kept me
to be the head of the heathen: a people which I knew shall not serve me.
45. ffStrangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be
obedient unto me.

a j q z
See verse 6 [h]~ wrestle [h]~ rids, or loses Psalm 18:32,39
b k r aa
Psalm 31:8 Exodus 3:7 [h]~ equals [h]~ Caused to bow
c l s bb
15:26 [h]~ candle Habakkuk 3:19 Genesis 49:8;
d
1 Samuel 26:23; m
[h]~ broken t
Deuteronomy 32:13; Exodus 23:27;
cc
Psalm 7:8 n
[h]~ refined; Psalm 33:29 Matthew 5:7
e u dd
Psalm 24:4 12:6 Psalm 144:1 Micah 7:10
f o v ee
Psalm 119:30 See verse 3; Psalm [h]~ for the war. 19:9,43; 20: 1,2,22
g
[h]~ to 17:7 w
[h]~ multiplied me ff
[h]~ sons of the
p
h
[h]~ before His eyes Deuteronomy x
Proverbs 4:12 stranger
i 32:31,39; 1 Samuel y
Matthew 5:7 [h]~ ankles
2:2

64
46. Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid, aout of their close places.
47. The LORD liveth: blessed be my rock; of my salvation: and exalted be the GOD of
the brock of my salvation.
48. It is God that cavenges me, and that dbrings down the people under me.
49. And that brings me forth from my enemies: You also have lifted me up on high
above them that rose up against me: You have delivered me from the eviolent man.
50. *** fTherefore, I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I
will sing praises unto thy name.
51. He is the tower of gsalvation for his king: and shows mercy to His anointed, unto
David, and to his seed forevermore.
David sang this song of praise unto the LORD, after He had rescued him from Saul and
all-of his other enemies:

Jehovah is my rock, my fortress, and my Saviour, I will hide in my God,

Who is my shield, and my salvation; my refuge and high tower.
Thank you, O my Saviour, for saving me from all-of my enemies.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, He will save me from all my
enemies. The wave of death surrounds me; floods of evil burst forth upon me; I am
trapped, and bound by hell and death; And He heard me from His Temple.
My cry reached His ears; then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the
heavens quaked, because of His wrath.
Smoke poured from His nostrils; fire leaped from His mouth, and burned up all before
Him. He set fire to the world. He bent the heavens down and came to the earth; He
walked upon dark clouds. He rode upon the glorious ~ on the wings of the wind.
Darkness surrounded Him, and clouds were thick around Him. [Many people have a
vision of God Almighty, as a blaze of glorious light ~ but here we have a description of
God being in the midst of darkness ~ But now He appears]
The earth was radiant with His brightness, the LORD thundered from heaven; The GOD
above all gods, gave out a mighty shout! He shot forth His arrows of lightning, and
routed His enemies. By the blast of His breath, we see the sea split in two, the bottom
of the sea appeared; from above, He rescued me.
He drew me out of the waters; He saved me from powerful enemies, from those who
hated me; and from those who were too strong for me.
They came upon me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my salvation!
He set me free, and rescued me, for I was His delight. The LORD rewarded me for my
goodness, for my hands were clean from sin: And I have not departed from my God.
I knew His laws, and I obeyed them, I was perfect in obedience, and kept myself from
sin. That is why the LORD has done so much for me. For He sees that I am clean [through
the blood of Jesus Christ.]
You are merciful to the merciful; You show your perfections to the blameless.
To those who are pure, You show Yourself pure; but you destroy all-of those who are
evil.
You will save those that are in trouble, but you will bring down the haughty; for you
watch their every move [nothing is hidden from thee].
You make my darkness bright; By Your power, I can crush an ARMY. By your strength I
can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect. [Notice, with God there is only ONE
WAY!] The WORD OF THE LORD IS TRUE! He shields all-of those who hides behind Him.
OUR LORD ALONE, IS GOD! We have no other Saviour. [Not Buddha, not Confucius, nor
Mohammad!]
God is my strong fortress; He has made me safe. He causes the good to walk a steady
tread, on a narrow path, like mountain goats upon the rocks. He gives me skill in war,
and strength to bend the bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of Your salvation.

a c e g
Micah 7:17 [h]~ gives Psalm 140:1 Psalm 144:10
b
Psalm 89:26; 95:1 avengement for f
Psalm 18:49;
d
Psalm 144:2 Romans 15:9

65
Your gentleness has made me great. You have made wide steps for my feet, to keep
them from slipping. I have chased my enemies and destroyed them, so that they cannot
rise again; they have fallen beneath my feet. You have given me strength for the battle,
and have caused me to subdue, all-of those who rose up against me.
You have made my enemies turn and run away; I have followed and destroyed them all.
They looked in vain for help; They cried out to God, but He refused to answer them.
I beat them into dust; I crushed and scattered them, like dust amongst the streets.
You have preserved me, from the rebels of my people. You have preserved me, as the
head of the nations. [Whether nations want to accept it or not ~ Israel will again be the
greatest nation on earth.]
Foreigners shall serve me, and shall quickly submit to me, when they hear of my power.
They shall lose heart, and come, trembling, from their hiding places.
The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Praise to Him, the rock of my salvation!
Blessed by God Almighty, who destroys those who oppose me, and rescues me from my
enemies. Yes! You hold me safe above their heads. You deliver me from violence.
No wonder I give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to Your
name. He gives wonderful deliverance to His king, and show mercy to His anointed ~
TO David and his family ~ forever!
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: DAVID’S LAST WORDS & HIS MIGHTY MEN
1. Now these be the last words of David, aDavid the son of Jesse said, band the man
who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet
psalmist of Israel said,
2. c
The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was in my tongue.
3. The GOD of Israel said, dthe ROCK of Israel spoke to me, “eHe that rules over men
must be just, ruling fin the fear of God.
4. “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when gthe sun rises, even a morning
without clouds: as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after
rain.
5. “Although my house be not with God; hyet He has made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my
desire, although He make it not to grow.
These are the last words of David: “David, the son of Jesse speaks. David to whom God
gave such wonderful success; David, the anointed of God of Jacob; David sweet psalmist
of Israel: ‘The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His WORD was on my tongue. The
ROCK of Israel said to me: ‘One shall come that rules righteously, who rules in the fear
of God. He shall be as the light in the morning; a cloudless sunrise, when the tender
grass springs forth upon the earth; As sunshine after rain.’ And it is my family He has
chosen! Yes, God has made an everlasting covenant with me; His agreement is eternal,
final, sealed. He will constantly look after my safety and success. [This is a prophetic
reference to Jesus as the Son of God, coming from the root of Jesse.]
6. But the sons of Belial [Satan] shall be all-of them as thorns thrust away, because
they cannot be taken with hands:
7. But the man that shall touch them must be i”fenced with iron” and the staff of a
spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place. [That is why
communism is called the “iron curtain.”]
“But the godless, are as thorns to be thrown away. For they tear the hand that touches
them. One must be armed to chop them down; They shall be burned!”
8. j
These be the names of the mighty men that David had: the Tachmonite that sat
in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: khe lift up
his spear against eight hundred, lwhom he slew at one time.

a d g j
Numbers 24:3,15 Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 110:3 See verse 39; 1
b
7:8,9 2 Samuel 22:3, 32 h
7:15,16 Chronicles 11: 10-41
e k
c
2 Peter 1:21 [h]~ be you ruler … i
[h]~ filled 1 Chronicles 11:11
f l
Exodus 18:21 [h]~ slain

66
9. And after him was aEleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty
men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together
to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.
10. He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave
unto his sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people
returned after him only to spoil.
11. And after him was Shammah, the son of Agee, the Hararite. And the Philistines
were gathered together into a troop, where there was a piece of land full of lentils:
and the people fled from the Philistines.
12. But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it, and slew the Philistines:
and the LORD wrought a great victory.
13. And bthree of the thirty chiefs went down, and came to David, in the harvest time
unto cthe cave of Adullam: and the troops of the Philistines pitched in dthe valley
of Rephaim.
14. And David was then in a hold, and ethe garrison of the Philistines was then in
Bethlehem.
15. And David longed, and said, “OH that one would give me a drink of the water of
the well in Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
16. And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water
out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to
David: nevertheless, He would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17. *** And he said, “Be it far from me, O LORD that I should do this: is this not the
blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore, he would not
drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
18. And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And
he lifted up his spear against three hundred, fand slew them, and had the name
among three.
19. *** Was he not most honourable of three? Therefore, he was their captain: howbeit
he attained not unto the first three.
20. And gBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had
done mighty acts, he slew two lion-like men of Moab: he went down also and slew
a lion in a pit in time of snow:
21. And he slew an Egyptian, ha goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand;
but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s
hand, and slew him with his own spear.
22. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three
mighty men.
23. He was imore honourable than the thirty, but he attained not for the first three.
And David set him over his jguard.
24. k
Asahel, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty; Elhanan, the son of Dodo of
Bethlehem,
25. Shammah, the Harodite, Elika the Harodite.
26. Helez the Paltite, Ira, the son of Ikkesh, the Tekolite.
27. Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai, the Hushathite,
28. Zalmon, the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29. Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai, the son of Ribai, out of Gibeah, of
the children of Benjamin.
30. Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai, of the brooks of Gaash.
31. Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Bar-humite,

a
1 Chronicles 11:12- d
5:18 sight; 1 Chronicles j
[h]~ Council, at his
14 e 11:23, a man of command; 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 13:23
b great stature 22:14
[h]~ the 3 captains f
[h]~ slain i
over the thirty; 1 gg
[h]~ Honourable k
2:18
8:18; 20:23 among the thirty.
Chronicles 11:15 hhh
c [h]~ a man of
1 Samuel 22:1
countenance, or,

67
32. Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33. Shammah, the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34. Eliphalet the son of Ahasbai, the son of Maachathite, Eliam, the son of Ahithophel,
the Gilonite,
35. Hezrai, the Carmelite, Paarai, the Arbite,
36. Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37. Zelek, the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab, the son of
Zeruiah,
38. Ira, the Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
39. Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
These are the names of the top three warriors: the most heroic men in David’s army:
the first was Josheb-basshebeth, from Tah-chemon, known also as Adino, the Eznite. He
once killed 800 men in one battle.
Next in rank was Eleazar, the son of Dodo and the grandson of Ahohi. He was one of the
three men with David that held back the Philistines, when the rest of the of the Israeli
army fled. He killed the Philistines until his hand was too tired to hold his sword: and
the LORD gave him a great victory. [Just Imagine, just 4 men against a whole army, and
the army was defeated!] The rest of the army did not return to the battlefield until it
was time to collect the loot!
After him in greatness was Shammah, the son of Agee, from Harar. Once during a
Philistine attack, when all-of his men deserted him and fled, he stood alone at the centre
of a field of lentils, and beat back the Philistines; and God gave him a great victory.
One day when David was living in the cave of Adullam, and the invading Philistines were
at the valley of Rephaim, 3 of the 30, the top-ranking officers of the Israeli army, went
down at harvest time to visit him. David was in the stronghold at the time, for Philistines
marauders had occupies the nearby city of Bethlehem.
David remarked, “how thirsty I am for some of that good water in the city well!” (which
is located near the city gate). So, the 3 men broke through the Philistine ranks and drew
water from the well, and brought it to David. He refused to drink it! Instead, he poured
it out, as a drink offering before the LORD. “NO, my God,” he exclaimed, “I cannot do it!
This water represents the blood of the 3 men who risked their lives to bring it to me.”
Of these 3 men, Abishai, the brother of Joab (son of Zeruiah), was the greatest. Once,
he took on 300 of the enemy single-handed, and killed them all. It was by such feats
that he earned his reputation, equal to the top three, although he was not actually one
of them. But he was the greatest of the 30 ~ the top-ranking officers of the army ~ and
was their leader.
There was also Benaiah (son of Jehoiada), a heroic soldier from Kabzeel. Benaiah killed
2 giants, sons of Ariel of Moab. Another time he went down into a pit, despite the slippery
snow on the ground, took on a lion that was caught there and killed it. Another time,
armed only with a staff, he killed an Egyptian warrior, who was armed with a spear; he
wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hands and killed him with his own spear. These
were some of the deeds that gave Benaiah almost as much renown as the Top Three.
He was not actually one of the Top Three, but David made him chief of his personal
bodyguard.
Asahel, the brother of Joab, was also one of the thirty. Others were as listed below:

• Elhanan, (son of Dodo), from Bethlehem;

• Shammah, from Harrod;
• Elika from Harrod;
• Helez from Palti;
• Ira, (son of Ikkesh) from Tekoa;
• Abiezer, from Anathoth;
• Mebunnai, from Hushath;
• Zalmon, from Ahoh;
• Maharai, from Netophah;
• Heleb, (son of Baanah), from Netophah;

68
 • Ittai, (son of Ribai), from Gibeah, of the tribe of Benjamin;
• Benaiah, of Parathion;
• Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash;
• Abialbon, from Abarth;
• Azmaveth, from Bahurim;
• Eliahba, from Shaalbon;
• The sons of Jashen;
• Jonathan;
• Shammah, from Harar;
• Ahiam, (son of Sharar) from Harar;
• Eliphalet (son of Abishai) from Maacah
• Eliam, (the son of Ahithophel) from Giloh;
• Hezro from Carmel;
• Paarai from Arba;
• Igal, (son of Nathan) from Zobah;
• Bani from Gad;
• Zelek, from Ammon;
• Naharai, from Beeroth, the armour-bearer of Joab (Son of Zeruiah);
• Ira, from Ithra;
• Gareb, from Ithra;
• Uriah, the Hittite ~ 37 in all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: DAVID’S SIN IN NUMBERING THE PEOPLE

1. And bagain, the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and cHe moved
a

David against them to say, “Go, number Israel ad Judah.”

2. For the king said to Joab, the captain of the host, which was with him, “dGo now
through all-of the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number all-of
the people, that I may know the number of the people.”
3. And Joab said unto the king, “Now ethe LORD thy God add unto the people, how
many soever they be, a hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may
see it: but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”
4. Notwithstanding, the kings word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains
of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of
the king, to number the people of Israel.
Once again, the anger of the LORD flared UP AGAINST Israel, and David was moved by
Satan to harm them by taking a National Census. [Sadly, after so many messages from
the LORD, directly and through his prophets, David was not able to realise that the Spirit
talking to Him here, was NOT from God Almighty.]
The king said to Joab, “Take a Census of all-of the people from one end of the nation to
the other, so that I will know how many of them there are.”
But Joab replied, “God grant that you will live to see the day when there will be a hundred
times as many people in your kingdom as there are now! But you have no right to rejoice
in their strength.” Literally, “But why does the lord the king delight in this thing?”
[Joab senses that what the king was asking was not right. But he obeyed the king’s
order.]
But the king’s command overcame Joab’s remonstrance; so, Joab and the other army
officers went out to count the people of Israel:
5. And they passed over the (River) Jordan and pitched in fAroer, on the right side of
the city that lies in-the-midst-of the griver of Gad, and towards Jazer:
6. Then they came to Gilead, and to the hland of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to
Dan-jaan, and about to Sidon.

a c f h
See verse 25; 1 [h]~ Satan (not God) Deuteronomy 2:36 [h]~ neither land
Chronicles 21:1-28 d
[h]~ compass g
[h]~ valley newly inhabited
b
21:1 e
Deuteronomy 1:11

69
7. And then came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all-of the cities of the Hivites, and
of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah; even to Beersheba.
8. So, they had gone through all-of the land, they came to Jerusalem, at the end of
nine months and twenty days.
9. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto the king; and there were
in Israel eight-hundred-thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men
of Judah were five-hundred-thousand men.
First, they crossed the River Jordan and camped at Aroer, south of the city, that lies in
the middle of the valley of Gad, near Jazer; then they went to Gilead, in the land of
Tahtimhodshi and to Dan-jaan, and around to Sidon; and then onto the stronghold of
Tyre, and all-of the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites, and south of Judah, as far
as Beersheba.
Having gone through the entire land, they completed their task in nine months & twenty
days. And Joab reported the number of people to the king; this included 800,000 men
of conscription age in Israel, and 500,000 in Judah. This means that if there were 1.3
million people of conscription age, there must have been over 3 million people in all.
10. And David’s heart smote him after he had numbered the people. And David said
unto the LORD, “aI have sinned greatly, in that I have done: and now, I beseech
thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have bdone very
foolishly.”
11. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the
prophet cGad, David’s (personal dseer) saying,
12. Go and say unto David, “Thus says the LORD; I offer you three things; choose thee
one of them (as punishment) that I may do it unto thee.”
13. So, Gad came unto David and told him, and said unto him,
1) Shall eseven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? Or,
2) Will you flee three months before your enemies? Or
3) That there be three days of pestilence in thy land?
Now, advise, and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.
14. And David said unto Gad, “I am in a great straight: ley is now fall into the hands
of the LORD; for His mercies are fgreat: and let me not fall into the hands of man.
But after David had taken the Censed us and got the results, David’s conscience began
to bother him, and He said to the LORD, “What I did was very wrong. Please forgive me
this foolish wickedness of mine.”
The next day, the word of the LORD came to Prophet Gad, who was David’s private
prophet with God. The LORD said to Gad, “Tell David that I will give him three choices
as his punishment.” So, Gad came to David and asked him; These are the three choices
for your punishment. You must choose one of them.
1) “Will you choose seven years of famine across the nation? or;
2) “To flee for three months before your enemies? Or,
3) “To submit to three days of plagues?
“Think this over and let me know what answer I have to give back to God.”
“This is a hard decision,” David replied. “But it is better to fall into the hands of the LORD
(For His mercy is great) than to fall into the hands of men.”
15. So, the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time
appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy
thousand men.
16. And when the angel (of death) stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy
it, The LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel, that destroyed the
people, “It is enough! Stay now thy hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the
threshing floor of gArunah the Jebusite.

a d e g
12:13 2 Kings 17:13; 1 1 Chronicles 21:12 1 Chronicles 21:15:
b
1 Samuel 13:13 Chronicles 21:9; f
[h]~ many; Psalm Also known as
c 25:5; 29:29 119:156 Ornan
1 Samuel 22:5

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17. And David spoke unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people and
said, “Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep (people), what
have they done? Let thy hand, (Of punishment) I pray thee, be against me, and
against my father’s house.
So, the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning and it lasted for three days; and
70,000 men died throughout the nation. But as the angel of death was preparing to
destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was sorry for what was happening to His city, and He told
the angel of death to stop. He was by the threshing floor of Arunah, the Jebusite at the
time.
When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, “LOOK, I am the one who has sinned!
What have the sheep (these innocent people) done? Let your anger be only against me
and my family.”
18. And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him “Go up, and rear up an altar
unto the LORD in the threshing floor of Arunah, the Jebusite.
19. And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.
20. And Arunah looked up and saw the king and his servants coming on towards him:
and Arunah went out, and bowed himself before the king, on his face to the ground.
21. And Arunah said, “Wherefore is the Lord my king come to his servant?” And David
said, “To buy the threshing floor off thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the
plague maybe stayed from the people.
22. And Arunah said unto David, “Let the lord the king take and offer up what seems
good unto him: Behold, here be oxen, for burnt sacrifices, and threshing
instruments and other ainstruments of the oxen for wood.”
23. And all-of these things did Arunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Arunah said
unto the king, “The LORD thy God accept thee.”
24. And the king said unto Arunah, “NO! But I will surely buy it off thee at a price:
neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which does cost
me nothing.” So, David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for bfifty shekels
of silver.
25. And David built there and altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings, and
peace offerings. So, the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague weas
stayed from Israel.
That day, Gad came to David and said, “Go and build an altar to the LORD of the
threshing floor of Arunah the Jebusite.” So, David went to do what the LORD had
commanded him.
When Arunah saw the king and his men coming towards him, he came forward and fell
flat on his face in the dust. “Why have you come?” Arunah asked.
And David replied, “To buy your threshing floor, so that I can build an altar to the LORD,
ad He will stop the plague.”
“Use anything you need” Arunah told the king. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering,
and you can use the threshing floor instruments and the oxen yokes, for wood to build
the fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, and may the LORD God accept your sacrifice.”
But the king said to Arunah, No! I will, not have it as a gift. I will buy it off you, for I
don’t want to offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that have cost me nothing.”
So, David paid him (50 shekels of silver) for the threshing floor and the oxen. And David
built an alter to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD
answered his prayer, and the plague ceased.

CONCLUSION:
In 1 Samuel, we see the continuation of the battle between good and evil going on
against Israel and Judah, just as it continues today. In both cases, the evil enemies want
to utterly eliminate the Jewish nation from the face of the earth. But Praise God, He is
greater than every enemy, and He has promised to protect and sustain His chosen

a b
1 Kings 19:21 1 Chronicles 21:25

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people. As we come to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Nation of
Israel, on the 14th May 2023, we remember the pictures of the celebrations as Ben
Gurion, declares the state of Israel. During the last 75 years, God has miraculously
moved upon His promises and the deserts have begun to bloom again.
It is only a matter of time, until another prophecy is fulfilled, and Israel once again,
becomes the greatest nation on earth!

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